Genomic Sequencing Research in Pediatric Cancer Care: Decision Making, Attitudes, and Perceived Utility Among Adolescents and Young Adults and Their Parents

Overview

Journal Genet Med

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Genetics

Date 2024 May 20

PMID 38767058

Authors

Amanda M Gutierrez

Jill O Robinson

Hadley S Smith

Lauren R Desrosiers-Battu

Sarah R Scollon

Isabel Canfield

Rebecca L Hsu

Nicole M Schneider

D Williams Parsons

Sharon E Plon

Wendy Allen-Rhoades

Mary A Majumder

Janet Malek

Amy L McGuire

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: Professional guidelines recommend engaging adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in medical decision making (DM), including whether to undergo genomic sequencing (GS). We explored DM around GS and attitudes after return of GS results among a diverse group of AYAs with cancer and their parents.

Methods: We surveyed AYAs with cancer (n = 75) and their parents (n = 52) 6 months after receiving GS results through the Texas KidsCanSeq study. We analyzed AYAs' DM role in GS research enrollment and their satisfaction with that role. We compared AYAs' and parents' self-reported understanding of, attitudes toward, and perceived utility of the AYA's GS results.

Results: Most AYAs reported equally sharing DM with their parents (55%) or leading DM (36%) about GS research. Compared with their cancer care DM role, 56% of AYAs reported the same level of involvement in GS research DM, whereas 32% were more involved, and 13% were less involved (P = .011). AYAs were satisfied (99%) with their DM role regarding GS study participation. AYAs and parents had similar self-reported understanding of, attitudes toward, and perceived utility of the GS results.

Conclusion: Our results support engaging AYAs in DM about GS research and provide insights into AYAs' DM preferences and positive attitudes toward GS.

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