Karina Vallejo Vasquez
Pronouns: she/hers
Research Mentor(s): Lauren Wallner, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Internal Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Michigan Medicine
Presentation Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021
Session: Session 4 (2pm-2:50pm)
Breakout Room: Room 10
Presenter: 7
Abstract
Genetic test results and their implications, which carry weight not only with the patient but with the patients first and second-degree relatives, are currently understudied. The U01 GeneLINK Trail is “a population-based virtual solution to reduce gaps in genetic risk evaluation (GRE) and management in families at high risk for hereditary cancer syndromes.” There are many complexities in the clinical context after initial genetic risk evaluation takes place and even more arise in communicating this to at risk relatives(ARRs). Barriers like language and socioeconomic status can also play a role in determining the likeliness of someone seeking out GRE. That is why this study aims to develop and test a virtual family-centered communication and decision-making platform, the Family Genetic Health Program (FGHP). As well as determine the independent effects of two design features -level of personalized family genetic risk support and cost of genetic testing for relatives.The study population is selected from the Georgia-California SEER Genetic Testing Linkage Initiative, their data spanning from 2013-2019. Uniform surveying will be the main data collection method.With this study we expect to find out more about 1) cancer patients’ appraisal of communication & engagement with relatives about genetic risk evaluation; 2) relatives’ appraisal of decision-making and receipt of genetic testing (primary outcome); 3) relatives’ completion of formal genetic risk evaluation. The hopes are that this will help lower-resourced practices as well as minority communities who may face a number of barriers that bar them from typically seeking out formal GRE.There is huge potential to improve the ways that patients and ARRs navigate GRE and also aid the prevention of heritable cancer syndromes in the US.
Authors: Karina Vallejo Vasquez, Aaron Rankin
Research Method: Survey Research
