Today genetic services including genetic counselling are widespread across the world. Although developing countries, like Colombia, have started to apply genetic knowledge to the health area, genetic counselling is usually integrated in the routine clinical genetic consultation, however, before this study the process of communication involved in it had not been explored. In collaboration with the Colombian Association of Medical Genetics, the Bogotá Health Service, and the University of Warwick (UK), I observed 25 genetic consultations in five Colombian genetic clinics. I undertook semi-structured interviews with patients / families before and after the consultation. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts established mismatches between physician perception and patient comprehension. Efficient communication was affected by patient, relatives, practitioner and external factors. Among these environmental factors were excessive administrative procedures, interruptions during the encounter, patients‟ lack of interest to medical terminology, doctors using scientific language, excessive information given in one session, beliefs and education level of the patient and/or relatives, patient distress caused by bad news, unfulfilled expectations and no availability/accessibility of treatment. I also interviewed 20 medical practitioners working in genetics services. There was general agreement that genetic counselling in Colombia was challenging, and that more training in communication skills was required at Medical schools at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Many physicians did not believe that other health professionals should work as genetic counsellors. There was a general recognition of limited genetic knowledge, awareness and understanding in most medical specialities. These results have made a valuable contribution to describe the current situation with genetics consultation and counselling in Colombian genetic clinics, and have already influenced the future development of an effective and robust genetic counselling service in Colombia. They will also be used in the development of the academic curriculum related to basic and clinical genetics at Colombian Universities.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:560320 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Rodas Perez, M. C. |
| Publisher | University of Warwick |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/46980/ |
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