Journal of Community Genetics
Volume 8, Issue 4, 2017, Pages 303-310

Referral to cancer genetic counseling: do migrant status and patients’ educational background matter? (Article) (Open Access)

van der Giessen J.A.M. , van Riel E. , Velthuizen M.E. , van Dulmen A.M. , Ausems M.G.E.M.*
  • a Department of Genetics, Division of Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85090, Utrecht, 3508 AB, Netherlands
  • b Department of Genetics, Division of Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85090, Utrecht, 3508 AB, Netherlands
  • c Department of Genetics, Division of Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85090, Utrecht, 3508 AB, Netherlands
  • d NIVEL (Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research), Utrecht, Netherlands, Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands, Faculty of Health Sciences, University College of Southeast Norway, Drammen, Norway
  • e Department of Genetics, Division of Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85090, Utrecht, 3508 AB, Netherlands

Abstract

Participation rates in cancer genetic counseling differ among populations, as patients with a lower educational background and migrant patients seem to have poorer access to it. We conducted a study to determine the present-day educational level and migrant status of counselees referred to cancer genetic counseling. We assessed personal characteristics and demographics of 731 newly referred counselees. Descriptive statistics were used to describe these characteristics. The results show that about 40% of the counselees had a high educational level and 89% were Dutch natives. Compared to the Dutch population, we found a significant difference in educational level (p = < 0.01) and migrant status (p = < 0.001). This suggests disparities in cancer genetic counseling and as a result of that, suboptimal care for vulnerable groups. Limited health literacy is likely to pose a particular challenge to cancer genetic counseling for counselees with a lower education or a migrant background. Our study points to considerable scope for improvement in referring vulnerable groups of patients for cancer genetic counseling. © 2017, The Author(s).

Author Keywords

Educational level Referral Migrant status Cancer genetic counseling

Index Keywords

male controlled study vulnerable population female patient referral educational status priority journal Dutchman genetic counseling demography health literacy Article human cancer genetics migrant
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85028765306&doi=10.1007%2fs12687-017-0326-4&partnerID=40&md5=c4c5713a7eba54becf1d288cb66c3d2d
DOI: 10.1007/s12687-017-0326-4
ISSN: 1868310X
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English