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01-10-2014 | Original Research

Linking Genetic Counseling Content to Short-Term Outcomes in Individuals at Elevated Breast Cancer Risk

Authors: Kimberly M. Kelly, Lee Ellington, Nancy Schoenberg, Parul Agarwal, Thomas Jackson, Stephanie Dickinson, Jame Abraham, Electra D. Paskett, Howard Leventhal, Michael Andrykowski

Published in: Journal of Genetic Counseling | Issue 5/2014

Abstract

Few studies have linked actual genetic counseling content to short-term outcomes. Using the Self-regulation Model, the impact of cognitive and affective content in genetic counseling on short-term outcomes was studied in individuals at elevated risk of familial breast-ovarian cancer. Surveys assessed dependent variables: distress, perceived risk, and 6 knowledge measures (Meaning of Positive Test; Meaning of Negative Test; Personal Behavior; Practitioner Knowledge; Mechanisms of Cancer Inheritance; Frequency of Inherited Cancer) measured at pre- and post-counseling. Proportion of participant cognitive and affective and counselor cognitive and affective content during sessions (using LIWC software) were predictors in regressions. Knowledge increased for 5 measures and decreased for Personal Behavior, Distress and Perceived Risk. Controlling for age and education, results were significant/marginally significant for three measures. More counselor content was associated with decreases in knowledge of Personal Behavior. More participant and less counselor affective content was associated with gains in Practitioner Knowledge. More counselor cognitive, and interaction of counselor cognitive and affective content, were associated with higher perceived risk. Genetic counselors dominate the content of counseling sessions. Therefore, their content is tied more closely to short term outcomes than participant content. A lack of patient communication in sessions may pose problems for understanding of complex concepts.

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Title: Linking Genetic Counseling Content to Short-Term Outcomes in Individuals at Elevated Breast Cancer Risk
Authors: Kimberly M. Kelly
Lee Ellington
Nancy Schoenberg
Parul Agarwal
Thomas Jackson
Stephanie Dickinson
Jame Abraham
Electra D. Paskett
Howard Leventhal
Michael Andrykowski
Publication date: 01-10-2014
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Genetic Counseling / Issue 5/2014
Print ISSN: 1059-7700
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3599
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-014-9705-8

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Linking Genetic Counseling Content to Short-Term Outcomes in Individuals at Elevated Breast Cancer Risk

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