Disclosing cancer genetic information within families: perspectives of counselees and their at-risk relatives.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present descriptive study was to investigate the experience of sharing genetic information among cancer genetic counselees and their at-risk relatives.


METHODS
In total, 147 cancer genetic counselees and 81 of their at-risk relatives answered to a study specific questionnaire and/or were interviewed. Counselees' communication of genetic information to at-risk relatives was assessed with regard to who they informed, how they felt, and how they perceived their relatives' reactions. In addition, at-risk relatives' experiences of receiving genetic information were studied.


RESULTS
Most of the counselees had shared the genetic information received at the counseling session personally with their at-risk relatives. The majority of the counselees (68%) reported positive or neutral feelings about sharing the genetic information with their relatives while 9% stated negative feelings. Counselees mostly interpreted the relatives' reactions to the information as positive or neutral (62% of responses), and in few cases as negative (14% of responses). About half of relatives reported positive or neutral reactions (54%) to the received information, while about one-fifth reported negative reactions (22%). Nevertheless, most relatives were satisfied with the received information and half of the relatives intended to seek genetic counseling themselves.


CONCLUSIONS
Sharing genetic information to at-risk relatives appears to be accomplished without any major difficulties or negative feelings. However, more assistance may be needed to optimize the communication of the genetic information within at-risk families.
Hayat Roshanai
Afsaneh
A
Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 564, 751 22 Uppsala, Sweden. afsaneh.roshanai@pubcare.uu.se
Lampic
Claudia
C
Rosenquist
Richard
R
Nordin
Karin
K
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003142:Communication; D005190:Family; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014342:Truth Disclosure