Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2010 Oct;56(10):993-9.

Prenatal genetic counseling in cross-cultural medicine: A framework for family physicians

Ashvinder K Bhogal  1 , Fern Brunger
Affiliations

Prenatal genetic counseling in cross-cultural medicine: A framework for family physicians

Ashvinder K Bhogal et al. Can Fam Physician. 2010 Oct.

Abstract
in English, French

Objective: To help family physicians practise effective genetic counseling and offer practical strategies for cross-cultural communication in the context of prenatal genetic counseling.

Sources of information: PubMed and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched. Most evidence was level II and some was level III.

Main message: The values and beliefs of practitioners, no less than those of patients, are shaped by culture. In promoting a patient's best interest, the assumptions of both the patient and the provider must be held up for examination and discussed in the attempt to arrive at a consensus. Through the explicit discussion and formation of trust, the health professionals, patients, and family members who are involved can develop a shared understanding of appropriate therapeutic goals and methods.

Conclusion: Reflecting on the cultural nature of biomedicine's ideas about risk, disability, and normality helps us to realize that there are many valid interpretations of what is in a patient's best interest. Self-reflection helps to ensure that respectful communication with the specific family and patient is the basis for health care decisions. Overall, this helps to improve the quality of care.

OBJECTIF: Aider le médecin de famille à dispenser un counseling génétique efficace et lui suggérer des stratégies de communication interculturelle pratiques pour y arriver.

SOURCES DE L’INFORMATION: On a consulté PubMed et la Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. La plupart des preuves étaient de niveau II, quelques-unes de niveau III.

PRINCIPAL MESSAGE: Les valeurs et croyances des médecins autant que celles des patients sont déterminées de façon culturelle. Pour favoriser le meilleur intérêt des patients, les idées préconçues du patient comme celles du médecin doivent être examinées et discutées afin d’en arriver à un consensus. Grâce à une discussion explicite et à l’établissement d’une confiance, le professionnel de la santé, le patient et les membres concernés de sa famille peuvent développer une compréhension commune des buts et méthodes thérapeutiques appropriés.

CONCLUSION: Une réflexion sur la nature culturelle des idées de la biomédecine au sujet du risque, de l’incapacité et de la normalité peut nous aider à comprendre qu’il existe plusieurs interprétations valides de ce qui est dans le meilleur intérêt d’un patient. Une réflexion personnelle fera en sorte qu’une communication respectueuse avec le patient et les membres intéressés de sa famille constituera le fondement des décisions sur les soins. La qualité des soins s’en trouvera globalement améliorée.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Qureshi N, Armstrong S, Modell B. GPs’ opinions of their role in prenatal genetic services: a cross-sectional survey. Fam Pract. 2006;23(1):106–10. Epub 2005 Aug 22. - PubMed
    1. Aalfs C, Smets EM, de Haes HC, Leschot NJ. Referral for genetic counseling during pregnancy: limited alertness and awareness about genetic risk factors among GPs. Fam Pract. 2003;20(2):135–41. - PubMed
    1. Blaine SM, Carroll JC, Rideout AL, Glendon G, Meschino W, Shuman C, et al. Interactive genetic counseling role-play: a novel educational strategy for family physicians. J Genet Counsel. 2008;17(2):189–95. Epub 2008 Jan 30. - PubMed
    1. Hunt LM, de Voogd KB, Castañeda H. The routine and the traumatic in prenatal genetic diagnosis: does clinical information inform patient decision-making? Patient Educ Couns. 2005;56(3):302–12. - PubMed
    1. Carroll JC, Brown JB, Reid AJ, Pugh P. Women’s experience of maternal serum screening. Can Fam Physician. 2000;46:614–20. - PMC - PubMed