Genome sequencing among children with medical complexity: What constitutes value from parents' perspective?

Genome sequencing (GS) has demonstrated high diagnostic yield in pediatric patients with complex, clinically heterogeneous presentations. Emerging evidence shows generally favorable experiences for patients and families receiving GS. As a result, implementation of GS in pediatrics is gaining momentum. To inform implementation, we conducted a qualitative study to explore the personal utility of GS for parents of children with medical complexity (CMC). GS was performed at an academic tertiary-care center for CMC for whom a genetic etiology was suspected. Following the return of GS results, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 parents about their child's diagnostic journey. Of the children whose parents were interviewed, six children received a diagnosis, two received a possible diagnosis, and six did not receive a diagnosis. A predominantly deductive thematic analysis approach to the interview data was used by applying Kohler's personal utility framework to understand affective, cognitive, behavioral and social impacts of GS. Both the diagnosed and undiagnosed groups experienced enhanced emotion-focused coping (affective). The diagnosed group experienced favorable utility related to knowledge of condition (cognitive) and communication with relatives (behavioral). A domain beyond Kohler's framework related to the presence or absence of GS impact on medical management was also described by parents. The deployment of GS late in the diagnostic odyssey and the limited knowledge available for the rare genetic disorders diagnosed in this cohort appeared to diminish the perceived utility of GS. As GS capabilities continue to evolve at a rapid pace and become available earlier in the diagnostic journey, it is important to consider the impact and timing of testing on parents of CMC.

Measuring clinical utility in the context of genetic testing: a scoping review.

Standardized approaches to measuring clinical utility will enable more robust evaluations of genetic tests. To characterize how clinical utility has been measured, this scoping review examined outcomes used to operationalize this concept in the context of genetic testing, spanning relevant literature (2015-2017). The search strategy and analysis were guided by the Fryback and Thornbury hierarchical model of efficacy (FT Model). Through searches in Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science, 194 publications were identified for inclusion. Two coders reviewed titles, abstracts, and full texts to determine eligibility. Results were analyzed using thematic and frequency analyses. This review generated a catalog of outcomes mapped to the efficacy domains of the FT Model. The degree of representation observed in each domain varied by the clinical purpose and clinical indication of genetic testing. Diagnostic accuracy (68%), technical (28.4%), and patient outcome (28.4%) efficacy studies were represented at the highest rate. Findings suggest that the FT Model is suitable for the genetics context however domain refinements may be warranted. More diverse clinical settings, robust study designs, and novel strategies for measuring clinical utility are needed.