title: Direct-to-consumer genetic testing: a systematic review of european guidelines, recommendations, and position statements.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Personalized healthcare is expected to yield promising results, with a paradigm shift toward more personalization in the practice of medicine. This emerging field has wide-ranging implications for all the stakeholders. Commercial tests in the form of multiplex genetic profiles are currently being provided to consumers, without the physicians' consultation, through the Internet, referred to as direct-to-consumer genetic tests (DTC GT).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to review all the existing European guidelines on DTC GT, and its associated interventions, to list all the supposed benefits and harms, issues and concerns, and recommendations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic review of position statements, policies, guidelines, and recommendations, produced by professional organizations or other relevant bodies for use of DTC GT in Europe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen documents met the inclusion criteria, which were subjected to thematic analysis, and the texts were coded for statements related to use of DTC GT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Professional societies and associations are currently more suggestive of potential disadvantages of DTC GT, recommending improved genetic literacy of both populations and health professionals, and implementation research on the genetic tests to integrate public health genomics into healthcare systems.
authors: 1 Medical Management Center (MMC), Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics (LIME), Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm, Sweden .|2 SDA Bocconi School of Management , Milan, Italy .
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Rafiq
authors: 3 Section of Hygiene, Institute of Public Health , Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy .
authors: Carolina
authors: C
authors: Ianuale
authors: 3 Section of Hygiene, Institute of Public Health , Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy .
authors: Walter
authors: W
authors: Ricciardi
authors: 3 Section of Hygiene, Institute of Public Health , Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy .
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Boccia
mesh_terms: D000067108:Direct-To-Consumer Screening and Testing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005060:Europe; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D057285:Precision Medicine / Q000639:trends; D011634:Public Health