2023 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting Digital Edition: Poster Gallery-Perspectives of Genetics Healthcare Professionals on Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Practice Recommendations

Pdf Summary

The Inter-Society Coordinating Committee for Practitioner Education in Genomics (ISCC-PEG) DTC-GT Project Group, consisting of geneticists, genetic counselors, physician assistants, pharmacists, educators, and other healthcare professionals, aims to improve the genomic literacy of healthcare professionals and enhance the practice of clinical medicine in direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTC-GT).<br /><br />The background on DTC-GT reveals that over 9 million Americans have used DTC-GT, and a significant number of physicians have had patients share their DTC-GT results with them. However, only 12% of primary care physicians believe they have sufficient knowledge to help patients understand these results. Furthermore, a substantial number of consumers who shared DTC-GT results with their doctors disagreed on whether their physicians had enough genetic knowledge to advise them. Currently, there are no practice recommendations for healthcare practitioners in relation to DTC-GT.<br /><br />The ISCC-PEG DTC-GT Project Group presented a draft set of recommendations at the American College of Medical Genetics conference. Over 290 genetics clinicians and genetic counselors responded to a survey about these recommendations, with more than 90% of respondents agreeing with the suggested recommendations.<br /><br />Open-ended responses to the survey highlighted several areas of agreement and disagreement among professionals. Some concerns included the complexity of implementing detailed recommendations during brief clinical encounters for non-geneticists, the need for education on DTC-GT technology and analytical tools, and disagreements regarding the clinical confirmation of all DTC-GT results. Genetic professionals also expressed concerns about pharmacogenomic recommendations and the potential bottleneck in genetic services for DTC-related referrals compared to referrals where genetic evaluations may be more critical. Additionally, there were concerns about how and where DTC-GT results should be included in electronic medical records, as well as the legal, policy, and insurance implications of the recommendations.<br /><br />Overall, the perspectives of genetics healthcare professionals on direct-to-consumer genetic testing practice recommendations reveal a need for further education, clarification, and consideration of various practical and ethical implications.

Asset Subtitle

Presenting Author - Houriya Ayoubieh, MD; Co-Author - Karen Whitt, PhD, AGN-BC, FNP-C, FAANP; Co-Author - Roseann S. Gammal, PharmD; Co-Author - Nguyen Park; Co-Author - Mathew Taylor, MD, PhD, FACMG; Co-Author - Christine M. Formea, PharmD; Co-Author - Tracey Weiler, PhD;

Meta Tag

Counseling

Ethical Legal and Social Issues

Genetic Testing

Co-Author Karen Whitt, PhD, AGN-BC, FNP-C, FAANP

Co-Author Roseann S. Gammal, PharmD

Co-Author Nguyen Park

Co-Author Mathew Taylor, MD, PhD, FACMG

Co-Author Christine M. Formea, PharmD

Co-Author Tracey Weiler, PhD

Presenting Author Houriya Ayoubieh, MD

Keywords

Inter-Society Coordinating Committee

Practitioner Education in Genomics

ISCC-PEG

DTC-GT Project Group

genomic literacy

healthcare professionals

clinical medicine

direct-to-consumer genetic testing

physicians

practice recommendations