Abstract
Hereditary chronic pancreatitis (HCP) is a genetically determined condition characterized by intermittent acute episodes of pancreatitis and long-term impairment of the exocrine and endocrine pancreatic functions. Genetic test results can have substantial psychological and social consequences for the individuals tested and their families. Nevertheless, little is known so far about the subjective experience of individuals genetically tested for HCP. This qualitative study examines the viewpoints of HCP patients and their relatives in order to identify the psychosocial and ethical implications related to genetic testing within families. Semi-structured qualitative individual interviews and a focus group with HCP patients and their family members were conducted. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis. A total of 28 individuals were enrolled in the study: 24 individuals (17 patients, 7 relatives) were interviewed in semi-structured one-on-one interviews and 4 individuals (2 patients, 2 life partners) participated in the focus group. Emerging topics covered (1) genetic testing in childhood, (2) genetic testing within the family and (3) family planning. The study reveals that genetic testing for HCP has a wide influence in familial contexts and is accompanied by normative issues, such as autonomy, reproductive decisions and sharing of information within the family. The results raise the awareness of the complexity of family contexts: familial relationships and dynamics can have great influence on the individual decisions related to genetic testing. Increased understanding of these relational contexts can help health professionals, for example, in counselling, to discuss genetic testing better with patients and families.
Highlights
MethodsQualitative triangulation was used to investigate how genetic testing affects patients and their relatives’ lives
Hereditary chronic pancreatitis (HCP) is a rare variety of chronic pancreatitis (CP) which is characterized by intermittent acute episodes of pancreatitis and long-term
Professional societies [45] understand genetic testing, in the first place, as an individual and not as a shared choice, participants in the present study described that entire families underwent genetic testing together
Summary
Qualitative triangulation was used to investigate how genetic testing affects patients and their relatives’ lives. Triangulation, as the combination of different approaches to study the same object of inquiry, can refer to such different aspects as data, investigators, theories or methods. Method triangulation can refer to the combination of quantitative methods, qualitative methods or both. Method triangulation in qualitative inquiry means a multimethod approach to qualitative data collection and analysis, which can refer, for example, to the combination of qualitative methods such as one-on-one interviews and focus groups [30]. The underlying idea of all approaches is to study the respective phenomenon from different perspectives in order to gain a more complete picture and deepen the understanding [30]. Individual interviews were supplemented by a group session to discuss the psychosocial and ethical aspects of genetic testing within families
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