Counseling Customers: Emerging Roles for Genetic Counselors in the Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Market

Individuals now have access to an increasing number of internet resources offering personal genomics services. As the direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTC GT) industry expands, critics have called for pre- and post-test genetic counseling to be included with the product. Several genetic testing companies offer genetic counseling. There has been no examination to date of this service provision, whether it meets critics’ concerns and implications it may have for the genetic counseling profession. Considering the increasing relevance of genetics in healthcare, the complexity of genetic information provided by DTC GT, the mediating role of the internet in counseling, and potential conflicts of interest, this is a topic which deserves further attention. In this paper we offer a discourse analysis of ways in which genetic counseling is represented on DTC GT websites, blogs and other online material. This analysis identified four types of genetic counseling represented on the websites: the integrated counseling product; discretionary counseling; independent counseling; and product advice. Genetic counselors are represented as having the following roles: genetics educator; mediator; lifestyle advisor; risk interpreter; and entrepreneur. We conclude that genetic counseling as represented on DTC GT websites demonstrates shifting professional roles and forms of expertise in genetic counseling. Genetic counselors are also playing an important part in how the genetic testing market is taking shape. Our analysis offers important and timely insights into recent developments in the genetic counseling profession, which have relevance for practitioners, researchers and policy makers concerned with the evolving field of personal genomics. Keywords Genetic counseling Internet Direct-to-consumer genetic testing Discourse analysis

Habermas, Human Agency, and Human Genetic Enhancement: The Grown, the Made, and Responsibility for Actions

Recent developments in genomic science hold out the tantalizing prospect of soon being able to treat and prevent a wide variety of medical conditions through gene therapy. In time, it may be possible to use similar techniques not simply to combat disease but also to enhance, or improve on, normal human functioning

Using iPad applications to promote fluency in mathematics and improve attitudes toward studying

This study monitored four third grade students who used iPad games to study multiplication facts for seven weeks. They took a survey at the beginning and end of the study to assess their attitude toward school, studying, and math in order to determine whether an attitude change took place throughout the course of events. The students also participated in a timed multiplication test with eighty-one questions at the beginning and took the same test at the end of the seven-week period. I met with the group twice weekly during the school day to play multiplication practice games. The group consisted of two boys and two girls at a private school in Fayetteville, Arkansas. They were chosen to participate in this study by their classroom teacher because of they demonstrated need in the areas of study skills and multiplication

Identifying studies for systematic reviews - An example from medical imaging

Objectives: To determine if published figures on the proportion of articles included in systematic reviews and identified in electronic databases are applicable to an example from medical imaging. Methods: A systematic review was performed. Additionally, sensitivity and precision of a MEDLINE search were compared with values from three published searches, each customized for a specific field. Results: All articles included in the systematic review were in electronic databases. The MEDLINE search had low precision compared with searches in other fields. Conclusions: in a specific area of medical imaging, electronic databases, including MEDLINE, are reliable sources of articles

Studies on Health, Place, and Education

Good health is positively associated with education outcomes, and likewise higher education-related achievement is positively associated with good health. Similarly, social disadvantage follows a cyclical pattern. It is cumulative; both accruing over the life course and across generations. Moreover, this relationship disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable populations, including both minorities and children living in or near poverty. For example, since the 1990s asthma, the most common chronic illness among youth, has seen the greatest increases in urban environments, and among racial and ethnic minorities in or near poverty. Still, consideration of the interdependence between health, place, and education remains underdeveloped in the literature. Place provides an opportunity to examine the ways in which health and education interact to limit or encourage maximal growth for children, shaping their development and opportunity. This dissertation both affirms prior research examining these relationships and further deepens our understanding of the ways in which health and place interact to impact outcomes for young children. The introductory chapter provides the theoretical framework and a brief review of the literature guiding the studies included in the dissertation. The first study utilizes a large national dataset to examine chronic and recurrent early childhood health conditions and their impact on reading and math skills of children at kindergarten entry. The final two studies utilize social epidemiological methods which allow for the examination of population level, social-structural factors and health conditions and their impact on developmental and educational outcomes for youth at both regional and local levels. Central to all three studies is the element of geography or place. A final chapter considers the findings of the dissertation as a whole, offering lessons learned and directions for future research

From Chaos to Calm

A hands on session demonstrating and discussing the most engaging strategies for addressing emotional and social concerns of students for Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions. An overview of an effective student referral process, evidence based interventions like Positive Action & Second Step as well as tried and true tools such as Zones of Regulation, Social Thinking, Mindfulness and creative interventions

Programs Aplenty Using LibWizard Tutorials

The Library at the University of Dayton had incredible virtual programming success during the 2020-21 academic year with trendy information literacy topics and interactive content related to history, archives, special collections, art, and even a library tour. Most of the eight LibWizard programs this academic year were available to students for 30 days or less; they had over 7,221 total participants. Student feedback showed positive engagement with the module-based learning compared to other programs available. One student even said, I LOVE the format of the library modules, so user-friendly and easy to follow! This presentation explores ideas and best practices for using LibWizard Tutorials for co-curricular learning modules incorporating our experiences and student feedback

Utah State University Evaluation of Ring to GREEN Final Research Report

Necrotic ring spot (Ophiosphaerella korrae) is the most commonly diagnosed fungal turfgrass disease by the Utah State University Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory. The disease effects coolseason grasses in the state and region, particularly Kentucky bluegrass. The necrotic ring spot (NRS) disease pathogen infects and kills turfgrass roots and crowns, resulting in the blighted appearance of turf amidst an otherwise healthy area of turf In the late summer/fall of 2015, Utah State University (USU) began a research study of the Ring to GREEN product by GreenMaster Distributing, LLC for the control of necrotic ring spot in turfgrass. Prior to USU’s involvement, product development had begun in 2010 and the product was patented in 2011. The patent included not only the Ring to Green product, but specific irrigation practices in conjunction with its us

Happiness as stable extraversion : internal consistency reliability and construct validity of the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire among undergraduate students

The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) was developed by Hills and Argyle (2002) to provide a more accessible equivalent measure of the Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI). The aim of the present study was to examine the internal consistency reliability, and construct validity of this new instrument alongside the Eysenckian dimensional model of personality. The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire was completed by a sample of 131 undergraduate students together with the abbreviated form of the Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. The data demonstrated good internal consistency reliability (alpha = .92) and good construct validity in terms of positive association with extraversion (r = .38 p < .001) and negative association with neuroticism (r = −.57 p < .001). The kind of happiness measured by the OHQ is clearly associated with stable extraversion