TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessment of psychosocial outcomes in genetic counseling research
T2 - An overview of available measurement scales
AU - Kasparian, Nadine A.
AU - Wakefield, Claire E.
AU - Meiser, Bettina
PY - 2007/12
Y1 - 2007/12
N2 - The aim of the present paper was to describe and evaluate many of the measurement scales currently used in genetic counseling outcomes research. A team of three researchers reviewed the available literature and selected a variety of validated instruments suitable for measurement of genetic counseling outcomes. There are numerous scales to assess each of the following outcomes among counselees: satisfaction with genetic counseling; knowledge; decision-making; psychological adjustment; coping; perceived personal control; perceptions of disease risk; and family communication about genetic risk. However, the strengths and limitations inherent to each instrument warrant careful consideration prior to implementation. In the genetic counseling context, scale selection should be undertaken with thought directed towards the characteristics of the research sample (e.g. levels of literacy, culture, medical condition), the practicalities of the research setting (e.g. available funding and resources, time restrictions, researcher expertise), the purpose of the research (i.e. the specific aspect of the genetic counseling experience to be studied), and the science underlying the scale (e.g. theoretical framework, psychometric properties).
AB - The aim of the present paper was to describe and evaluate many of the measurement scales currently used in genetic counseling outcomes research. A team of three researchers reviewed the available literature and selected a variety of validated instruments suitable for measurement of genetic counseling outcomes. There are numerous scales to assess each of the following outcomes among counselees: satisfaction with genetic counseling; knowledge; decision-making; psychological adjustment; coping; perceived personal control; perceptions of disease risk; and family communication about genetic risk. However, the strengths and limitations inherent to each instrument warrant careful consideration prior to implementation. In the genetic counseling context, scale selection should be undertaken with thought directed towards the characteristics of the research sample (e.g. levels of literacy, culture, medical condition), the practicalities of the research setting (e.g. available funding and resources, time restrictions, researcher expertise), the purpose of the research (i.e. the specific aspect of the genetic counseling experience to be studied), and the science underlying the scale (e.g. theoretical framework, psychometric properties).
KW - Client satisfaction
KW - Decision-making
KW - Distress
KW - Family communication
KW - Genetic counseling
KW - Perceived risk
KW - Psychological outcomes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=35948959333&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10897-007-9111-6
DO - 10.1007/s10897-007-9111-6
M3 - Review article
C2 - 17694397
AN - SCOPUS:35948959333
VL - 16
SP - 693
EP - 712
JO - Journal of Genetic Counseling
JF - Journal of Genetic Counseling
SN - 1059-7700
IS - 6
ER -