Genetic Counseling Communication & Education Flashcards

Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of a pedigree in a genetic counseling session?

Answer: To visually map family medical history and identify inheritance patterns

Pedigrees systematically capture multigenerational family history to analyze inheritance patterns and identify at-risk relatives.

During a session, a patient becomes visibly distressed upon learning about a hereditary cancer risk. The counselor's immediate priority should be:

Answer: Acknowledge the patient's emotional response and provide space to process

Acknowledging distress and creating emotional space is foundational to patient-centered counseling before advancing to clinical information.

Which informed consent element is MOST critical when discussing predictive genetic testing for a late-onset condition?

Answer: The potential psychological impact of knowing one's genetic status

Predictive testing for late-onset conditions has significant psychological implications that must be addressed as part of informed consent.

A genetic counselor suspects a patient has not truly understood the recurrence risk discussed. The BEST next step is to:

Answer: Use teach-back to reassess and re-explain with different framing

Reassessing comprehension through teach-back and offering alternative explanations ensures genuine informed understanding.

In pediatric genetic counseling, assent from a minor patient is BEST described as:

Answer: The child's affirmative agreement to participate in testing, considered alongside parental consent

Assent acknowledges the developing autonomy of minors and is ethically important alongside parental consent, though it is not legally binding.

A genetic counselor is helping a patient communicate a hereditary risk to family members. The MOST appropriate counselor role is to:

Answer: Provide the patient with tools and guidance to share the information themselves

The genetic counselor respects patient confidentiality by empowering the patient to share information rather than contacting relatives directly.