Family communication about genetic risk: the little that is known.
Although family communication is important in clinical genetics only a small number of studies have specifically explored the passing on of genetic knowledge to family members. In addition, many of these present exploratory or tentative findings based upon small sample sizes, or data collected only a short time after testing. Nevertheless, if health professionals are to develop effective strategies to help patients' deal with communication issues, we need to know more about what actually happens in families. The aim of this commentary is to identify factors which appear to influence whether patients share information about genetic risk with relatives who are unaware of that risk, with whom they share it and how they go about it. The paper draws upon evidence and thinking from the disciplines of psychology (including family therapy), sociology, medicine and genetic counselling. It is presented under the following headings: disease factors, individual factors, family factors and sociocultural factors. It concludes by highlighting a number of key issues which are relevant for health professionals.
Department of Public Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
Brenda J
BJ
Wilson
Karen
K
Forrest
Edwin R
ER
van Teijlingen
Lorna
L
McKee
Neva
N
Haites
Eric
E
Matthews
Sheila A
SA
Simpson
D003144:Communication Barriers; D005195:Family Relations; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D014342:Truth Disclosure