Factors affecting genetic counseling experiences of foreign residents in Japan: implications for healthcare inclusivity.

IF 1.8 Q4 GENETICS & HEREDITY
Kate Nakasato, Moeko Isono, Kazuto Kato
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Abstract

The rapid development of genomic medicine and simultaneous global diversification of societies present new and complex challenges for healthcare systems worldwide. Medical professionals are now expected to communicate highly complex and evolving genetic information while simultaneously addressing the diverse linguistic, cultural, and social needs of their patient populations. At the center of this effort is the genetic counselor, who must navigate cultural perceptions of genetics, varying levels of health literacy, language barriers, and socioeconomic disparities to deliver equitable and effective care. Research in this area is expanding. However, its global distribution remains uneven and disproportionately concentrated in certain regions. In Japan, where many sectors of society are not yet fully equipped to meet the needs of its increasing migrant population, i.e., foreign residents, research describing the factors that impact their genetic counseling experiences is scarce. To fill this gap, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with ten individuals who have had genetic counseling in Japan for prenatal diagnosis/screening, hereditary cancer, or hereditary monogenic disease. Thematic analysis revealed five factors that impacted their experience with genetic counseling: (1) Japanese language proficiency, (2) genetic literacy, (3) digital health literacy, (4) global family connections, and (5) interactions with medical professionals. These findings not only provide nuance to existing literature but also suggest areas of improvement for the cultural competence training of genetic counselors in Japan and point towards the need for guiding resources at the international level.

影响日本外国居民遗传咨询经验的因素:对医疗保健包容性的影响。
基因组医学的快速发展和同时全球社会的多样化为全球医疗保健系统提出了新的和复杂的挑战。医疗专业人员现在被期望传达高度复杂和不断发展的遗传信息,同时解决患者群体的不同语言,文化和社会需求。这项工作的核心是遗传咨询师,他们必须应对遗传学的文化观念、不同水平的健康素养、语言障碍和社会经济差距,以提供公平有效的护理。这一领域的研究正在扩大。然而,其全球分布仍然不平衡,不成比例地集中在某些区域。在日本,社会的许多部门还没有完全准备好满足其不断增加的移民人口(即外国居民)的需求,描述影响他们遗传咨询经验的因素的研究很少。为了填补这一空白,我们对10名在日本接受过产前诊断/筛查、遗传性癌症或遗传性单基因疾病遗传咨询的个人进行了半结构化定性访谈。专题分析揭示了影响他们遗传咨询体验的五个因素:(1)日语水平,(2)遗传素养,(3)数字健康素养,(4)全球家庭关系,(5)与医疗专业人员的互动。这些发现不仅为现有文献提供了细微的差别,而且为日本遗传咨询师的文化能力培训提出了改进的领域,并指出了在国际层面上指导资源的必要性。
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来源期刊
Journal of Community Genetics
Journal of Community Genetics GENETICS & HEREDITY-
CiteScore
3.30
自引率
5.30%
发文量
54
期刊介绍: The Journal of Community Genetics is an international forum for research in the ever-expanding field of community genetics, the art and science of applying medical genetics to human communities for the benefit of their individuals. Community genetics comprises all activities which identify persons at increased genetic risk and has an interest in assessing this risk, in order to enable those at risk to make informed decisions. Community genetics services thus encompass such activities as genetic screening, registration of genetic conditions in the population, routine preconceptional and prenatal genetic consultations, public education on genetic issues, and public debate on related ethical issues. The Journal of Community Genetics has a multidisciplinary scope. It covers medical genetics, epidemiology, genetics in primary care, public health aspects of genetics, and ethical, legal, social and economic issues. Its intention is to serve as a forum for community genetics worldwide, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries. The journal features original research papers, reviews, short communications, program reports, news, and correspondence. Program reports describe illustrative projects in the field of community genetics, e.g., design and progress of an educational program or the protocol and achievement of a gene bank. Case reports describing individual patients are not accepted.
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