Purpose: This study explored employee health behavior changes and healthcare utilization following workplace genetic testing (wGT). Wellness program-associated wGT seeks to improve employee health, but related health implications are unknown.
Methods: Employees of a large U.S. healthcare system offering wGT (cancer, heart disease, and pharmacogenomics - PGx) were sent electronic surveys. Self-reported data from those who received test results were analyzed. Descriptive statistics characterized responses, while logistic regression analyses explored correlates of responses to wGT.
Results: 53.9% (n=418/776) of respondents (88.3% female, mean age = 44 years) reported receiving wGT results. 12.0% (n=48/399) received results indicating increased risk (IR) of cancer, 9.5% (n=38/398) had IR of heart disease, and 31.4% (n=125/398) received informative PGx results. IR results for cancer and/or heart disease (n=67) were associated with health behavior changes (aOR 3.23; 95% CI 1.75, 6.13; p<0.001) and healthcare utilization (aOR 8.60; 95% CI 4.43, 17.5; p<0.001). Informative PGx results (n=125) were associated with medication changes (PGx - informative: 15.2%; PGx - uninformative: 4.8%; p=0.002).
Conclusion: This study explored employee responses to wGT, contributing to the understanding of the ethical and social implications of wGT. Receiving IR results from wGT may promote health behavior changes and healthcare utilization in employees.
Keywords: ELSI; Wellness programs; behavior changes; employees; workplace genetic testing.
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