Karbani G A
Department of Clinical Genetics, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
Community Genet. 2002;5(3):205-7. doi: 10.1159/000066338.
Transcultural genetic counselling is not about being an expert on any given culture, rather it is a way of thinking about patients that acknowledges and values culture. Transcultural genetic counselling aims to provide a service, and to focus attention on aspects of the genetic counselling process which can easily be overlooked as we strive to improve the ways in which complex genetic information is delivered to all of the cultural groups we seek to serve.
Two specific examples to illustrate particular problems will be given: (1) a UK Pakistani family with a lethal skin disorder and Down syndrome diagnosed prenatally, and (2) a Caucasian family who presented with a twin pregnancy and a history of infertility.
This article examines the way in which patients perceive and try to make sense of genetic diseases, the information given, and the course of action taken which may play a part in this process. We are also interested in how clinicians imagine the manner in which different cultures may influence the way they interact with patients. Genetic counsellors who view these differences as positive attributes will be most likely to meet, and resolve, the challenges that arise in transcultural genetic counselling.
跨文化遗传咨询并非要成为任何特定文化的专家，而是一种看待患者的思维方式，承认并重视文化。跨文化遗传咨询旨在提供一项服务，并将注意力集中在遗传咨询过程中容易被忽视的方面，因为我们努力改进向我们试图服务的所有文化群体传递复杂遗传信息的方式。
将给出两个具体例子来说明特定问题：（1）一个患有致命性皮肤病且产前诊断为唐氏综合征的英国巴基斯坦家庭，以及（2）一个怀有双胞胎且有不孕史的白种人家庭。
本文探讨患者如何看待并试图理解遗传疾病、所提供的信息以及在此过程中可能起作用的所采取的行动过程。我们还对临床医生如何想象不同文化可能影响他们与患者互动的方式感兴趣。将这些差异视为积极属性的遗传咨询师最有可能应对并解决跨文化遗传咨询中出现的挑战。
