Document Detail


A Community's Awareness and Perceptions of Genomic Medicine.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19439917     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Focus groups were conducted in a mid-sized community to explore community members' awareness and perceptions of genomic medicine and identify effective methods to educate the public about this topic. METHODS: Thirteen focus groups were conducted with a demographically representative pool of 121 participants using a semi-structured interview guide. Transcripts were analyzed through a computer assisted approach with Atlas TI consisting of coding, categorizing, comparing, and contrasting relevant data. RESULTS: Identified categories were organized into 6 main themes, which were similar across the groups and included: a lack of awareness, perceived benefits, concerns about genomic medicine, reasons for poor health related behavior, the potential impact of genetic information on health behavior, and the best ways to educate the community. Common concerns included lack of affordability, unanticipated physical harm, mistrust of the government and researchers, downstream effects like overpopulation, playing God/disturbing the natural order, lack of regulations, loss of privacy, genetic discrimination, and moral dilemmas posed by genetic engineering, cloning, choosing traits, and abortions resulting from genetic information. Participants also discussed ways to educate the community. CONCLUSIONS: While individuals recognized that diseases run in families, personal experience was a driving factor in participants' level of knowledge. Many expressed optimism about genomic medicine. However, the lack of depth in responses and their misconceptions reflect a deficiency of knowledge, which along with their personal, moral, and global concerns could impede acceptance and utilization of genomic medicine. Many community members are receptive to learning more about genomic medicine, and many of their concerns and misconceptions can be addressed through a well designed education strategy.
Authors:
S Hahn; S Letvak; K Powell; C Christianson; D Wallace; M Speer; P Lietz; S Blanton; J Vance; M Pericak-Vance; V C Henrich;
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.     Date:  2009-05-13
Journal Detail:
Title:  Public health genomics     Volume:  13     ISSN:  1662-8063     ISO Abbreviation:  Public Health Genomics     Publication Date:  2010  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-12-09     Completed Date:  2010-02-18     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101474167     Medline TA:  Public Health Genomics     Country:  Switzerland    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  63-71     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Affiliation:
Miami Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33101, USA. shahn@med.miami.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Awareness*
Focus Groups
Genomics*
Health Education
Humans
Residence Characteristics*
Investigator
Investigator/Affiliation:
William Scott / ; Marcy Speer / ; Elizabeth Hauser / ; Mark Donahue / ; Thomas Ortel / ; Richard Becker / ; Adam Buchanan / ; Louise Ivanov / ; Ellen Jones / ; Astrid Agbaje / ; Celette Skinner /

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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