Adults' perceptions of genetic counseling and genetic testing.

PURPOSE: This study described the perceptions of genetic counseling and testing of adults (N = 116) attending a genetic education program. Understanding perceptions of genetic counseling, including the importance of counseling topics, will contribute to patient-focused care as clinical genetic applications for common, complex disorders evolve. METHODS: Participants completed a survey addressing: the importance of genetic counseling topics, benefits and negative effects of genetic testing, and sharing test results. RESULTS: Topics addressing practical information about genetic conditions were rated most important; topics involving conceptual genetic/genomic principles were rated least important. The most frequently identified benefit and negative effect of testing were prevention/early detection/treatment and psychological distress. Participants perceived that they were more likely to share test results with first-degree than other relatives. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest providing patients with practical information about genetic testing and genetic contributions to disease, while also determining whether their self-care abilities would be enhanced by teaching genetic/genomic principles.

Using a writing group to promote faculty scholarship.

Writing productivity is an essential component of scholarship. Barriers to writing include intrapersonal characteristics, faculty role complexity, and time constraints. Writing groups can increase faculty members' writing, contributing to dissemination of nursing knowledge and advancement of professional nursing. The authors discuss the structure and processes of a writing group that can be adapted by faculty interested in using comentoring to increase their scholarship.

Knowledge and beliefs about genetics and smoking among visitors and staff at a health care facility.

OBJECTIVES: The primary purpose of this study was to describe individuals' knowledge and beliefs about genetics and smoking. Secondary purposes were to describe (a) differences in knowledge and beliefs based on smoking status, gender, and education and (b) relationships among perceived genetic predisposition for smoking, background characteristics, and knowledge and beliefs about genetics and smoking. Because genetics influences smoking, genetic information will likely be used to individualize future cessation treatment. DESIGN: Questionnaire data were collected about knowledge and beliefs about genetics and smoking, smoking history, and demographics from visitors and staff at a nursing care facility. Data were analyzed with bivariate statistics and logistic regression. SAMPLE: Participants (N=92), ages 19-82, were classified by smoking status. RESULTS: Participants had little knowledge about genetics and smoking or mechanisms of heredity. Most did not believe that genetics caused smoking or influenced cessation. Predictors of perceived genetic predisposition for smoking were smoking status (current/former smoker), education (

Genetic susceptibility to lung cancer: implications for smoking cessation.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. As information from the Human Genome Project becomes integrated into clinical practice, knowledge of genetic susceptibility for lung cancer will be used to identify persons at risk and to individualize treatments, such as prescribing chemoprevention. Nurses who assimilate genetic information into their practice can help patients to understand the implications of genetic susceptibility to lung cancer for their health and to reduce their disease risk with adaptive behaviors.