Lay understanding of genetic disease: A British study of families attending a genetic counseling service |
| |
Authors: | Alison Chapple Carl May Peter Campion |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of General Practice, University of Manchester, UK;(2) Department of Primary Care, The University of Liverpool, The Whelan Building, L69 3BX Liverpool, UK |
| |
Abstract: | Although lay people know that various diseases can be inherited, the idea that unhealthy life styles are the crucial cause of ill health has been promoted by health education policy in the United Kingdom. However, a new paradigm seems to be developing. The medical profession is increasingly using genetics to explain ill health, and people are being referred to geneticists for information and counseling. Lay conceptions of genetic disease emerged during this qualitative study of the process of genetic counseling. The results reported in this paper suggest that many lay people lack knowledge of genetics and inheritance, and that there is considerable stigma attached to genetic disease. Misconceptions and fears may not always be recognized or resolved during the process of genetic counseling. The implications of such misunderstandings and beliefs are considered in this paper. |
| |
Keywords: | lay understanding genetic counseling stigma |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|