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Panacer KS. Ethical Issues Associated With Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing. Cureus 2023; 15:e39918. [PMID: 37404400 PMCID: PMC10317585 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.39918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTC-GT) is becoming an increasingly profitable private enterprise that provides genetic testing kits directly to consumers. DTC-GT companies advertise themselves as a method for patients to take control of their own health and investigate their risk of diseases and conditions as well as look into their ancestry. The scope of practice of these companies continues to widen offering more services. Consumers may therefore have a relatively poor understanding of the services provided when purchasing these products. The testing methods utilised show some limitations, the consequences of which have the possibility of leading to harm to consumers. The result of the data gathered may instigate the formation of negative stereotypes from the public and reinforce existing ones towards a population that may have already been previously subjugated to unfair treatment. The controversy surrounding how data are utilised further impacts how many may engage in its use. This review aims to provide an overview of the services these companies purport to provide as well as highlight important ethical issues of the service such as quality of information, privacy concerns, negative psychosocial impact and the effect on clinical practice.
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Lacson JCA, Kim Y, Roetzheim RG, Sutton SK, Vadaparampil ST, Kanetsky PA. Predictors of genetic risk recall among the participants of a randomized controlled precision prevention trial against melanoma. Genet Med 2023; 25:100005. [PMID: 36629029 PMCID: PMC10085824 DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2023.100005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Inherited variation in MC1R imparts low to moderate risk of melanoma. Research on genetic risk recall, factors predicting recall, and whether recall influences adoption of preventive behaviors is limited. METHODS Participants (n = 447) enrolled in a melanoma precision prevention trial were provided with MC1R risk information (average or higher) and after 6 and 12 months, were asked to recall their genetic risk. Predictors of recall were identified using backward stepwise selection. Intervention effects were reassessed after stratifying by recall. RESULTS Participants at higher risk were 2 to 3 times more likely to misremember or not recall than participants with average risk. Misremembering was almost exclusively observed among participants at higher risk. Among the participants with average risk, lower health numeracy and not completing the telephone follow-up were associated with not recalling or misremembering. Among the participants at higher risk, lower education was associated with not recalling and lower perceived comparative chance of developing melanoma was associated with misremembering. In general, participants at higher risk who correctly recalled had modestly stronger intervention effects on sun protection behaviors than those who misremembered or did not recall. CONCLUSION Future studies should examine different strategies to increase genetic risk recall, which may result in improved behavioral outcomes, especially among participants with lower education and health numeracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Charles A Lacson
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL
| | - Youngchul Kim
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL
| | - Richard G Roetzheim
- Department of Family Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
| | - Steven K Sutton
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL
| | - Susan T Vadaparampil
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL
| | - Peter A Kanetsky
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL.
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Beccia F, Hoxhaj I, Sassano M, Stojanovic J, Acampora A, Pastorino R, Boccia S. Survey of Professionals of the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) towards Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing. Eur J Public Health 2023; 33:139-145. [PMID: 36179240 PMCID: PMC9898004 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckac139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The increasing availability of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Tests (DTC-GTs) has great implications for public health (PH) and requires literate healthcare professionals to address the challenges they pose. We designed and conducted a survey to assess the state of knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of PH professionals members of the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) towards DTC-GTs. METHODS EUPHA members were invited to participate and fill in the survey. We performed multivariable logistic regression to evaluate associations between selected covariates and knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of healthcare professionals towards DTC-GT. RESULTS Three hundred and two professionals completed the survey, 66.9% of whom were not involved in genetics or genomics within their professional activities. Although 74.5% of respondents were aware that DTC-GTs could be purchased on the web, most of them reported a low level of awareness towards DTC-GTs applications and regulatory aspects. The majority did not approve the provision of DTC-GTs without consultation of a healthcare professional (91.4%), were doubtful about the test utility and validity (61%) and did not feel prepared to address citizens' questions (65.6%). Predictors of knowledge on DTC-GT were the involvement in genetics/genomics and receiving training during the studies (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.043). Predictors of attitudes were medical degree and knowledge about DTC-GTs (P = 0.006 and P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS Our results revealed a high level of awareness of DTC-GT web purchasing and a moderate to low level of awareness towards their applications. Despite the overall positive attitudes, PH professionals reported a high need for strengthening regulatory aspects of DTC-GTs provision process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Beccia
- Department of Health Science and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilda Hoxhaj
- Department of Health Science and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Department of Surgery Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Michele Sassano
- Department of Health Science and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Jovana Stojanovic
- Department of Health Science and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology (HKAP), Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Anna Acampora
- Department of Health Science and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Department of epidemiology, Regional Health System, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Pastorino
- Department of Health Science and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Boccia
- Department of Health Science and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Lee J, Kwon KH. The significant transformation of life into health and beauty in metaverse era. J Cosmet Dermatol 2022; 21:6575-6583. [PMID: 35686389 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.15151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2019, coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) continues, and it is evolving and starting again. It is a situation to keep in mind that now is the era of With Corona (WC) and Long-COVID. "WC" will be a transformation of the quarantine system. The current situation is associated with health and beauty. Sustainability of healthy beauty is giving new meaning to well-being and well-dying. OBJECTIVES Therefore, in this study, we empirically analyzed the changes in the perception of health and beauty among cosmetic consumers in the metaverse, which are recently becoming an issue in the WC era. METHODS It was created by searching keywords such as "With Corona," "Health," "Life Beauty," "Customized inner beauty," "Customized cosmetics," "Metaverse," "DTC GT," etc. This study was conducted with reference to PubMed, Google Scholar, Riss, Scopus, and ResearchGate. Accordingly, a total of 472 papers were researched, and among them, 32 papers, which are the focus of the study, were finally included in this study. RESULTS As the era of WC changes, a new paradigm of converting the customer experience of the beauty market into a metaverse will be beginning. Accordingly, it is necessary to pay attention to changes in the cosmetic industry by reflecting the needs of consumers. CONCLUSION It is necessary to create a new mobile platform that encompasses three-dimensional health and beauty life using direct-to-customer genetic testing (DTC GT) with Web 3.0 in the metaverse that integrates life health and beauty in the WC era. Accordingly, it is expected that this article will be used as an invaluable marketing material in preparation for new changes in the metaverse cosmetics market in the future by clearly understanding the needs of consumers in the cosmetics industry, which are changing as they transformation to WC era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinkyung Lee
- Division of Beauty Arts Care, Department of Beauty Arts Care, Graduate School, Dongguk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Beauty and Health Care, Namseoul University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Han Kwon
- College of General Education, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Boyer MS, Widmer D, Cohidon C, Desvergne B, Cornuz J, Guessous I, Cerqui D. Representations of personalised medicine in family medicine: a qualitative analysis. BMC PRIMARY CARE 2022; 23:37. [PMID: 35232380 PMCID: PMC8889694 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-022-01650-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Background The promise of personalised medicine (PM) to transform healthcare has sparked great enthusiasm in the last years. Yet, its lack of consensus around the nature and scope of the concept has ended in terminological confusion amongst the users in primary care. We aimed to investigate the perceptions of doctors and their patients in response to this evolving concept. This present article focuses on the general understanding of personalised medicine, underlining the confusion over the concept. Methods Semi-structured comprehensive interviews were conducted with 10 general practitioners (GPs) and 10 of their patients. The purposive sampling took into account the doctor’s age, sex, and place of practice (rural/urban); each doctor recruited one patient of the same age and sex. Each interview began with the same open-ended question about the participant’s knowledge of the topic, after which a working definition was provided to continue the discussion. Using the grounded theory method, the analysis consisted of open coding, axial coding and selective coding. Results From our present analysis focusing on the general understanding of PM, three main themes representing the concept emerged. The first two representations being “centred on the person as a whole” and “focused on alternative and complementary methods”, in which the therapeutic relationship was stated as key. The third theme “medicine open to innovation” involved the few participants who had a good understanding of the concept and could associate personalised medicine with genomics. For those who value therapeutic relationship, the risks of accepting innovation could result in “fast-food” medicine and interpersonal barriers. Discussion PM is predominantly unfamiliar in family medicine. It is misinterpreted as a holistic or integrative type of medicine. This semantic confusion probably lies in the choice of the label “personalised” or from the lack of a uniform definition for the term.
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Arias JJ, Lin GA, Tyler AM, Douglas MP, Phillips KA. Geriatricians’ Perspectives on the Multiple Dimensions of Utility of Genetic Testing for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Qualitative Study. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 90:1011-1019. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-220674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Background: Research advancements in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) raise opportunities for genetic testing to improve diagnostic and risk assessment. Despite emerging developments, it is unclear how geriatricians perceive the potential clinical and personal utility of genetic testing for their patients. Geriatricians’ perspectives are essential to understanding potential ethical, policy, and clinical challenges. Objective: In this paper, we report on geriatricians’ perspectives on the utility of genetic testing for AD. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with California geriatricians within different practices settings to collect and characterize their perspectives on genetic testing for AD. We used an adapted grounded theory approach to analyze recorded and transcribed interviews. Results: We identified geriatricians’ (n = 10) perspectives on the clinical and personal utility of testing, alongside their views on clinical care approaches for older adults. Geriatricians perceived minimal clinical utility of genetic testing for AD, though that may change with the availability of disease-modifying therapies. Yet, they recognized the potential personal utility of testing (e.g., assisting with future financial planning). Finally, geriatricians expressed concerns regarding patients’ anxiety from learning about genetic status, particularly through direct-to-consumer (DTC) testing. Conclusion: Our data highlight that the decision to order genetic testing requires clinical and ethical considerations, including balancing limited clinical utility with the potential personal utility. Although DTC testing is available, geriatricians perceive that they have an important role in managing the decision to test and interpreting the results. Further research is needed to inform policy and ethical guidelines to support geriatricians’ critical role to counsel patients considering clinical and DTC genetic testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jalayne J. Arias
- School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Grace A. Lin
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ana M. Tyler
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Michael P. Douglas
- Center for Translational and Policy Research on Personalized Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kathryn A. Phillips
- Center for Translational and Policy Research on Personalized Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Powell SN, Byfield G, Bennetone A, Frantz AM, Harrison LK, James-Crook ER, Osborne H, Owens TH, Shaw JL, O’Daniel J, Milko LV. Parental Guidance Suggested: Engaging Parents as Partners in Research Studies of Genomic Screening for a Pediatric Population. Front Genet 2022; 13:867030. [PMID: 35401676 PMCID: PMC8990237 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.867030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in genomic sequencing and genomic medicine are reshaping the landscape of clinical care. As a screening modality, genetic sequencing has the potential to dramatically expand the clinical utility of newborn screening (NBS), though significant barriers remain regarding ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) and technical and evidentiary challenges. Stakeholder-informed implementation research is poised to grapple with many of these barriers, and parents are crucial stakeholders in this process. We describe the formation and activities of a Community Research Board (CRB) composed of parents with diverse backgrounds assembled to participate in an ongoing research partnership with genomic and public health researchers at the University of North Carolina. The mission of the CRB is to provide insight into parental perspectives regarding the prospect of adding genomic sequencing to NBS and collaboratively develop strategies to ensure its equitable uptake. We describe how these contributions can improve the accessibility of research and recruitment methods and promote trust and inclusivity within diverse communities to maximize the societal benefit of population genomic screening in healthy children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina N. Powell
- Program for Precision Medicine in Health Care, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Grace Byfield
- Program for Precision Medicine in Health Care, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | | | - Annabelle M. Frantz
- Program for Precision Medicine in Health Care, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Langston K. Harrison
- Program for Precision Medicine in Health Care, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | | | - Heather Osborne
- Community Research Board Member, Mooresville, NC, United States
| | | | | | - Julianne O’Daniel
- Program for Precision Medicine in Health Care, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Laura V. Milko
- Program for Precision Medicine in Health Care, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States,*Correspondence: Laura V. Milko,
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