Applying theories, models, and frameworks to help genetic counselors and students achieve clinical and professional goals

Deborah Cragun; Lindsey Victoria; Angela R Bradbury; Marleah Dean; Jada G Hamilton; Mira L Katz; Alanna Kulchak Rahm; Jennifer W Mack; Ken Resnicow; Kimberly A Kaphingst

doi:10.1002/jgc4.1988

Applying theories, models, and frameworks to help genetic counselors and students achieve clinical and professional goals

J Genet Couns. 2024 Oct 27. doi: 10.1002/jgc4.1988. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Deborah Cragun¹, Lindsey Victoria², Angela R Bradbury^{3

4}, Marleah Dean^{5

6}, Jada G Hamilton⁷, Mira L Katz⁸, Alanna Kulchak Rahm⁹, Jennifer W Mack¹⁰, Ken Resnicow¹¹, Kimberly A Kaphingst¹²

Affiliations

¹ College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
² Labcorp Women's Health and Genetics, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
³ Abramson Cancer Center and Division of Hematology-Oncology, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
⁴ Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
⁵ Department of Communication, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
⁶ Health Outcomes & Behavior Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA.
⁷ Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
⁸ Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion, College of Public Health and the Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
⁹ Department of Genomic Health, Geisinger, Danville, Pennsylvania, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Pediatric Oncology and Division of Population Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
¹¹ University of Michigan School of Public Health, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
¹² Department of Communication and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

PMID: 39462976
DOI: 10.1002/jgc4.1988

Abstract

Some genetic counselors (GCs) may find theories, models, and frameworks (TMFs) useful in clinical skills selection and when reflecting on or evaluating genetic counseling practice. This paper aims to demonstrate how TMFs can be used to postulate how different skills may impact patients'/clients' decisions, behaviors, and outcomes and consider how multiple TMFs can inform the use of various skills or strategies to achieve different goals. Additionally, we provide examples of TMFs that may help GCs in nonclinical aspects of their work, such as implementing and evaluating new interventions or service delivery models. To guide the selection of appropriate TMFs, we provide a set of questions to consider and include examples of skills and approaches that align with different TMFs. While TMFs provide a structured approach and valuable guidance that may help advance genetic counseling practice, they have certain limitations. Additional research is necessary to determine the effectiveness of using TMFs to guide clinical practice and improve patient/client outcomes.

Keywords: communication; genetic counseling; outcomes; skills; strategies.

Abstract

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