According to a new Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Healthcare Poll, the public is almost unanimous in its opinions on the science of genetics and the use of DNA. While only five percent of all adults have ever had a genetic test to study their DNA, the vast majority of U.S. adults (93%) feel that genetic science is a good thing, and few (only 1%) feel it is a bad thing. Furthermore, most adults are supportive of using genetic information for purposes such as to identify criminals (93%) and to treat disease (87%). These are some of the results of a Harris Interactive® online survey of 3,091 U.S. adults, conducted between August 10 and 14, 2006 for The Wall Street Journal Online's Health Industry Edition (www.wsj.com/health).
The vast majority of adults strongly or somewhat support the use of genetic information for:
Identifying criminals in rape, murder and other crimes (93%)
Establishing paternity (whether a man is or is not the father of a child) (92%)
Research by scientists to find new ways to prevent or treat diseases (91%)
Genetic testing by doctors to identify diseases for which people are at risk (88%)
Genetic therapy to treat people who have, or are likely to get, a particular disease (87%)
Tracing one's family tree and ancestors (85%)
Screening potential parents for inherited diseases or genetic weaknesses at fertility clinics (72%)
On the other hand, when it comes to issues that could affect their jobs or insurance coverage and costs, adults do not want DNA science to play a role. Approximately four out of five adults strongly or somewhat oppose the use of genetic information by:
Employers to help decide whether to employ somebody (81%)
Life insurance companies to determine who to insure or how much to charge (80%)
Health insurance companies to determine who to insure and how much to charge (80%)
Methodology
Harris Interactive® conducted this online survey within the United States between August 10 and 14, 2006 among a national cross section of 3,091 adults, ages 18 years and over. Figures for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, income and region were weighted where necessary to align with population proportions. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.
All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include: sampling error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed); measurement error due to question wording and/or question order, deliberately or unintentionally inaccurate responses, nonresponse (including refusals), interviewer effects (when live interviewers are used) and weighting.
With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that result cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a finite "margin of error" for any survey and the use of these words should be avoided.
With pure probability samples of 3,091, one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the results have a sampling error of +/- 2 percentage points. However that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
About the Survey
The Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Health-Care Poll is an exclusive poll that is published in the award-winning Health Industry Edition of The Wall Street Journal Online at www.wsj.com/health.
About The Wall Street Journal Online
The Wall Street Journal Online at WSJ.com, published by Dow Jones & Company (NYSE: DJ; www.dowjones.com), is the largest paid subscription news site on the Web. Launched in 1996, the Online Journal continues to attract quality subscribers that are at the top of their industries, with 761,000 subscribers world-wide as of Q1, 2006.
To become a member of the Harris Poll Online, visit http://go.hpolsurveys.com/Health.
© 2006 HealthNewsDigest.com