GP attitudes to and expectations for providing personal genomic risk information to the public: a qualitative study

Abstract

BackgroundAs part of a pilot randomised controlled trial examining the impact of personal melanoma genomic risk information on behavioural and psychosocial outcomes, GPs were sent a booklet containing their patient’s genomic risk of melanoma.AimUsing this booklet as an example of genomic risk information that might be offered on a population-level in the future, this study explored GP attitudes towards communicating genomic risk information and resources needed to support this process.Design & settingSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 Australian GPs.MethodThe interviews were recorded and transcribed, and data were analysed thematically.ResultsGPs in this sample believed that communicating genomic risk may become a responsibility within primary care and they recommended a shared decisionmaking approach to guide the testing process. Factors were identified that may influence how and when GPs communicate genomic risk information. GPs view genomics-based risk as one of many disease risk factors and feel that this type of information could be applied in practice in the context of overall risk assessment for diseases for which prevention and early detection strategies are available. They believe it is important to ensure that patients understand their genomic risk and do not experience long-term adverse psychological responses. GPs desire clinical practice guidelines that specify recommendations for genomic risk assessment and patient management, point-of-care resources, and risk prediction tools that include genomic and traditional risk factors.ConclusionThese findings will inform the development of resources for preparing GPs to manage and implement genomic risk information in practice.

Knowledge, views and expectations for cancer polygenic risk testing in clinical practice: A cross‐sectional survey of health professionals

“…general practitioners) are also likely to be involved in the potential implementation of PRS, such as in general population‐based screening. Some of our findings are comparable to another study, which found that general practitioners expect that PRS will impact their clinical practice in the future and they require point‐of‐care resources and clinical guidelines regarding PRS 28 . However, further research is still required to assess the learning requirements and attitudes of nongenetic healthcare providers in different contexts.…”

Maternity health care professionals' views and experiences of fetal genomic uncertainty: A review

“…While we identified several studies that included obstetricians and fetal medicine specialists, there was a notable absence of studies exploring midwives and FPs views, most likely due to the perception of their peripheral role in prenatal diagnosis. However, there is increasing recognition that FPs and midwives must engage with the growing impact of genomics in health care . Coupled with the preliminary evidence from this review that diagnostic uncertainty is viewed as one of the major negative consequences of prenatal testing, further research is needed to inform the implementation of fetal genomics into maternity care.…”

“…Outside of the prenatal setting, FPs believe that communicating genomic risk is a responsibility of primary care and recommended a shared decision‐making approach to guide the testing . FPs believe it is important to ensure that patients understand genomic risk and do not experience long‐term adverse psychological responses.…”

Perceptions and experiences of rare diseases among General Practitioners: an exploratory study

“…Smit et al . (2019) found that GPs believe that genomic risk may become a responsibility within primary care and they recommended a shared decision making approach to guide the testing process (37). Many adults are living with a rare disease that is not diagnosed in childhood (38).…”