Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
J Genet Couns. 2023 Oct;32(5):1069-1079. doi: 10.1002/jgc4.1717. Epub 2023 Apr 26.
Although Hispanic individuals are at an increased risk for various genetic conditions, they have lower uptake of genetic counseling and genetic testing. Virtual appointments have many advantages that may help Spanish-speaking patients access genetic services more readily. Despite these benefits, there are limitations that may make them less attractive options for these individuals. This study aimed to determine if satisfaction with genetic counseling or mode of delivery preference differs between English- and Spanish-speaking individuals who have had a virtual prenatal genetic counseling session. Participants were recruited from prenatal genetic counseling clinics at Indiana University Health and Eskenazi Hospital. A REDCap survey was sent to all eligible participants. Survey questions included mode of delivery preference for future genetic counseling sessions (virtual versus in-person), the validated Genetic Counseling Satisfaction Scale, and questions inquiring about the importance of various factors affecting mode of delivery preference. Spanish-speaking individuals preferred future visits to be in-person, while English-speaking individuals preferred future visits to be virtual (Fisher's exact p = 0.003). Several factors were associated with these preferences, including waiting time, ability to leave/take off work for an appointment, length of session, childcare arrangements, and people attending the appointment (all p < 0.05). Both language groups reported similar mean satisfaction with the genetic counseling provided during their previous virtual appointments (p = 0.51). This study found that certain aspects of virtual genetic counseling appointments make them less appealing to Spanish-speaking individuals. Making virtual genetic counseling appointments more appealing while continuing to offer in-person appointments may help Spanish-speaking individuals receive necessary genetics services. Continued research into disparities and barriers to telemedicine for Spanish-speaking patients is necessary to increase access to this service delivery model for genetic counseling.
尽管西班牙裔个体患各种遗传疾病的风险增加，但他们接受遗传咨询和基因检测的比例较低。虚拟预约有许多优势，可能有助于讲西班牙语的患者更方便地获得遗传服务。尽管有这些好处，但也存在一些限制因素，可能使这些患者不太倾向于选择虚拟预约。本研究旨在确定在接受过虚拟产前遗传咨询的英语和西班牙语个体中，对遗传咨询的满意度或交付方式偏好是否存在差异。参与者是从印第安纳大学健康中心和 Eskenazi 医院的产前遗传咨询诊所招募的。向所有符合条件的参与者发送了一份 REDCap 调查。调查问题包括对未来遗传咨询会议模式（虚拟与面对面）的交付方式偏好、经过验证的遗传咨询满意度量表，以及询问影响交付方式偏好的各种因素的重要性的问题。讲西班牙语的个体更喜欢面对面的未来就诊，而讲英语的个体则更喜欢虚拟的未来就诊（Fisher 精确检验 p=0.003）。有几个因素与这些偏好相关，包括等待时间、请假或脱岗参加预约的能力、会议时长、儿童保育安排和参加预约的人员（所有 p<0.05）。两个语言组报告在之前的虚拟预约中提供的遗传咨询的满意度相似（p=0.51）。本研究发现，虚拟遗传咨询预约的某些方面对讲西班牙语的个体吸引力较低。在继续提供面对面预约的同时，使虚拟遗传咨询预约更具吸引力，可能有助于讲西班牙语的个体获得必要的遗传服务。需要对西班牙语患者远程医疗的差异和障碍进行持续研究，以增加对这种遗传咨询服务模式的获取。
