Re-conceptualizing risk in genetic counseling: implications for clinical practice.
Risk communication is an important component of genetic counseling. However, many authors have noted that after genetic counseling, subjective risk frequently does not match the objective risk provided by the counselor. This inevitably leads to the conclusion that the risk communication process was not "effective". There has been much discussion about how this problem can be better addressed, such that our clients recall numeric risks more accurately after genetic counseling. This article draws on the risk and probability literature from other fields (including psychology, economics, philosophy and climate change) to deconstruct the concepts of "risk" and risk perception to attempt to expand upon and develop thought and discussion about and investigation of the risk communication process in genetic counseling.
Austin
Jehannine C
JC
Department of Psychiatry and Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Rm A3-112 - 3rd Floor, CFRI Translational Lab Building, 938 W28th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5Z 4H4. Jehannine.austin@ubc.ca
D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D011336:Probability; D011361:Professional Competence; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*