Motivations, Perceptions and Impacts of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Among Users in Brazil

Abstract Purpose Numerous studies have focused on direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTC-GT), but little is known about non-North American or European consumers. Therefore, this study assesses the sociodemographic profile, motivations, and impacts of DTC-GT among Brazilian consumers. Methods DTC-GT costumers were invited to complete a 30-question online survey anonymously. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and Chi-Square test, with significant findings analyzed using post-hoc and correspondence analysis. Results This study comprised 1513 Brazilian DTC-GT consumers with a mean age of 42 years old and mostly female (60.8%). Participants’ primary motivation for purchasing the test was to discover about their genetic predispositions to diseases (87.24%) followed by biogeographical ancestry (86.19%). While only a fraction of participants consulted healthcare professionals (18.44%), most felt confident in independently understanding the test results (66.89%), which was significantly associated with Health/Biological Sciences professional field (p < 0.001). Additionally, many customers felt glad (63.25%), and few felt worried (13.42%) post-results, especially regarding health outcomes. Lifestyle changes included dietary adjustments (38.66%), regular health check-ups (24.19%) and increased physical activity (16.46%). Overall, 63.98% of respondents reported altering habits following test results. Conclusion These findings contribute to understanding the motivations and impacts of DTC-GT among Brazilian consumers, indicating positive lifestyle changes and minimal negative psychological impacts.