Are health professionals ready for direct-to-consumer genetic and genomic testing?

Personalized Medicine
Heather SkirtonAnita O'Connor

Abstract

Direct-to-consumer genetic and genomic tests have been offered for over a decade. With the reduction in the cost of sequencing, the options for consumers will increase, with subsequent pressure on health services to interpret data and integrate the results into healthcare management. However, indications are that health professionals are grossly unprepared to deal with requests for support from those who have undertaken direct-to-consumer genetic or genomic tests. While benefits may be derived from patient-driven investigations, distinction needs to be made between the mostly uncertain clinical utility of susceptibility testing and the potential benefits of a reliably interpreted sequencing result. It is essential that we develop strategies, including enhanced professional education, to cope with the potential impact on the health services, rather than ignoring these developments. There may also be implications for the future of genetic counseling, with potential changes in the current paradigm.

References

May 16, 2003·Community Genetics·Bryn Williams-Jones
May 26, 2005·Genetics in Medicine : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·Marieke J H BaarsLeo P Ten Kate
Nov 23, 2005·Genetics in Medicine : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·Marieke J H BaarsLeo P Ten Kate
Mar 2, 2006·Journal of Medical Ethics·K G Fulda, K Lykens
Jun 30, 2006·Breast Cancer Research and Treatment·Jacek GronwaldJan Lubiński
Oct 19, 2006·Journal of Nursing Scholarship : an Official Publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing·Dale Halsey LeaMiriam G Blitzer
Jan 19, 2007·Nature Reviews. Genetics·Alan E GuttmacherJoseph D McInerney
Sep 12, 2007·Bioethics·Jackie Leach ScullyChristoph Rehmann-Sutter
Jan 1, 2008·Nature Methods·Stephan C Schuster
Apr 17, 2008·Nature Reviews. Genetics·Morris W Foster, Richard R Sharp
May 31, 2008·Cell·Laura Bonetta
Mar 17, 2009·Health Care Analysis : HCA : Journal of Health Philosophy and Policy·Douglas K MartinJeff Nisker
Nov 26, 2009·American Journal of Human Genetics·Quanhe YangMuin J Khoury
Jan 13, 2010·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·Mark E RobsonUNKNOWN American Society of Clinical Oncology
May 6, 2010·European Journal of Human Genetics : EJHG·Heather SkirtonUNKNOWN Members of Eurogentest Unit 6 and ESHG Education Committee
Aug 24, 2010·Nursing & Health Sciences·Heather SkirtonSue Turale
Oct 27, 2010·PloS One·Lynn F CherkasBarbara Prainsack
Nov 16, 2010·New Genetics and Society·Michelle L McGowanMarcie A Lambrix
Jan 15, 2011·Genetics in Medicine : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·Kathryn T HockWendy R Uhlmann
Feb 24, 2011·Journal of Nursing Scholarship : an Official Publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing·Dale Halsey LeaJanet K Williams
Jun 8, 2011·Human Genetics·Mary E Travers, Mark I McCarthy
Jun 18, 2011·Nature Reviews. Genetics·John W DaveyMark L Blaxter
Sep 17, 2011·Public Health Genomics·J HayC M McBride
Dec 6, 2011·Journal of Genetic Counseling·Patricia McCarthy Veach, Bonnie S Leroy
Dec 15, 2011·Journal of Community Genetics·Cristophe CordierHeather Skirton
Dec 31, 2011·Journal of Genetic Counseling·Karen P PowellVincent C Henrich
Jan 14, 2012·Genetics in Medicine : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·Elisa J F HouwinkCees van der Vleuten
Jan 26, 2012·European Journal of Human Genetics : EJHG·Pascal BorryHeidi Howard
Jan 27, 2012·Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics·E J StanekF W Frueh
Feb 16, 2012·European Journal of Human Genetics : EJHG·Lesley GoldsmithHeather Skirton
Mar 13, 2012·Journal of Genetic Counseling·Meredith Weaver, Toni I Pollin
May 23, 2012·Nature Reviews. Gastroenterology & Hepatology·David C Whitcomb
Aug 3, 2012·Journal of Advanced Nursing·Lea GodinoHeather Skirton
Apr 9, 2013·Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers·Juli Murphy BollingerDavid Kaufman

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

23andMe
EuroGentest

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.