Counselor-counselee interaction in reproductive genetic counseling: Does a pregnancy in the counselee make a difference?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of a pregnancy and other counselee characteristics on several aspects of counselor-counselee interaction during the initial clinical genetic consultation.


METHODS
The consultations, of a group of pregnant women (n = 82) and of a control group of non-pregnant women (n = 58), were compared specifically with regard to differences in global affective tone, extent of psychosocial exchange and women's participation in the decision-making process. Consultations were recorded, and subsequently coded from audiotape by 10 raters.


RESULTS
Only two differences in outcome measures were found between the two study groups: the counselor was rated as slightly more nervous in consultations with pregnant women, and in consultations with non-pregnant women fewer decisions were taken. The length of the consultation, the contribution of a counselee's companion to the consultation and counselee characteristics (age, level of education, initiation of referral, affected person, degree of worry and preferred participation in decision-making) were more important in explaining the nature of the interaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study yielded no important differences in counselor-counselee interaction during the initial clinical genetic consultation of pregnant versus non-pregnant women regarding the affective tone of the consultation, the degree to which psychosocial issues were discussed and the women's participation in the decision-making process.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that a negatively affected counselor-counselee interaction is not an important disadvantage in consultations with pregnant women. Given the limitations of our study, however, we advocate further studies on counselor-counselee interaction in reproductive genetic counseling, in order to improve the quality of reproductive genetic counseling.
Aalfs
Cora M
CM
Department of Clinical Genetics, Academic Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. c.m.aalfs@amc.uva.nl
Oort
Frans J
FJ
de Haes
Hanneke C J M
HC
Leschot
Nico J
NJ
Smets
Ellen M A
EM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*