What improves the likelihood of people receiving genetic test results communicating to their families about genetic risk?
Deborah J Bowen, Sukh Makhnoon, Brian H Shirts and 7 others
PMID 33455827WHAT IT FOUND
Family communication about colorectal cancer risk is low but varies by relative.
Talking to children is most common. Family closeness and existing communication patterns predict whether someone shares risk information, suggesting interventions should target families with poor communication history.
Key findings
01Communication frequency with family members about colorectal cancer risk was generally low, occurring in less than 50% of probands, though communication with children was more frequent.
02Familial cohesion and communication flow were significantly associated with the frequency of intended communication with family members.
03Talking with a primary care provider about family health history did not significantly explain variance in family communication frequency or impact.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted in a relatively White, insured cohort from specific healthcare systems, limiting generalizability to more diverse populations. The study measured intentions and current patterns before genetic testing results were received, so it may not reflect post-test communication behaviors. The proportion of conversations specifically about genetic testing versus general cancer risk was not assessed. The study relied on self-reported data which may be subject to recall or social desirability bias.
Declared interests
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural. No other conflicts of interest were explicitly declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that discussing family health history with a primary care provider automatically leads to increased communication within the family. The study found that provider communication did not significantly predict family communication frequency, suggesting that internal family dynamics are more influential than external healthcare discussions.