Genetic Counseling Communication & Education Flashcards
6 cards from real CGC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Genetic Counseling Communication & Education flashcards as text
When presenting recurrence risk statistics to a patient, which format is generally MOST effective for understanding?
Answer: Natural frequencies (e.g., 1 in 4 chance)
Research shows patients understand and accurately recall risk information better when presented as natural frequencies rather than percentages or odds.
Which of the following is an example of the 'empathy' skill in genetic counseling?
Answer: Reflecting the patient's emotional state by saying 'This sounds incredibly overwhelming'
Empathy involves acknowledging and reflecting the patient's feelings accurately rather than projecting one's own experience or offering premature reassurance.
A genetic counselor uses the phrase 'positive result' when reporting an elevated carrier frequency finding. This language is problematic because:
Answer: Patients may interpret 'positive' as good news, causing misunderstanding
The term 'positive result' is ambiguous and can be falsely reassuring; genetic counselors should use precise language like 'pathogenic variant identified'.
Which counseling approach focuses on exploring and resolving ambivalence about genetic testing decisions?
Answer: Motivational interviewing
Motivational interviewing is designed to help patients explore ambivalence and strengthen their own motivation toward a decision.
A patient declines recommended genetic testing. The genetic counselor's BEST response is to:
Answer: Respect the decision, document it, and leave the door open for future discussion
Patient autonomy includes the right to decline testing; the counselor should respect the decision and ensure the patient knows they can revisit it.
Which of the following is a key difference between genetic counseling and genetic testing?
Answer: Genetic counseling addresses the psychological and informational needs surrounding genetic information, while testing provides molecular data
Genetic counseling is a distinct psycho-educational process separate from the technical act of genetic testing.
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