Understanding what drives genetic study participation: Perspectives of patients, carers, and relatives

Abstract Genetic research's growing importance in understanding pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and developing effective treatments prompted the RAPID‐PAH study. This study sought feedback from stakeholders who participated in two genomic studies to enhance genetic study delivery and clin...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Emilia M. Swietlik, Michaela Fay, Nicholas W. Morrell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-01-01
Series:Pulmonary Circulation
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/pul2.12346
_version_ 1797236707751362560
author Emilia M. Swietlik
Michaela Fay
Nicholas W. Morrell
author_facet Emilia M. Swietlik
Michaela Fay
Nicholas W. Morrell
author_sort Emilia M. Swietlik
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Genetic research's growing importance in understanding pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and developing effective treatments prompted the RAPID‐PAH study. This study sought feedback from stakeholders who participated in two genomic studies to enhance genetic study delivery and clinical integration. Stakeholders from nine UK PH centres, representing various roles, ages, genders, and mutation statuses, took part in 53 semi‐structured interviews and focus groups. Transcripts were thematically coded using inductive analysis. Clustering analysis was conducted to identify patient groups that shared attitudes. In this paper, we focus on patients', carers', and relatives' perspectives. The key interview themes revealed insights into participants' attitudes toward genetic research and testing more generally, expertise and knowledge of the disease itself, motivations and barriers to participating in genetic research, awareness of and interest in consent procedures and the use of personal and genetic data, as well as the process of communicating individual genetic results. Factors influencing genetic research participation included altruistic motives, personal diagnostic experiences, and family‐related hopes. Clustering analysis produced distinct clusters based on the presence of barriers and motivators for research participation; however, hardly any patients shared identical sets of attitudes, emphasising the need for personalised approaches to recruitment. Most patients reported poor engagement with study‐related materials. Patients who received individual genetic results expressed satisfaction with the process, whereas those who did not were disappointed with the lack of feedback. Reflecting on patient perspectives, we offer recommendations to improve the genetic study delivery process. Enhancing genetic research integration into clinical practice requires tailored engagement, clear communication, and support from healthcare stakeholders.
first_indexed 2024-04-24T17:08:08Z
format Article
id doaj.art-3909ff7d528b4c97a6adad6b8534f6d4
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2045-8940
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-24T17:08:08Z
publishDate 2024-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Pulmonary Circulation
spelling doaj.art-3909ff7d528b4c97a6adad6b8534f6d42024-03-28T19:28:30ZengWileyPulmonary Circulation2045-89402024-01-01141n/an/a10.1002/pul2.12346Understanding what drives genetic study participation: Perspectives of patients, carers, and relativesEmilia M. Swietlik0Michaela Fay1Nicholas W. Morrell2Department of Medicine, The Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute University of Cambridge Cambridge UKMF Research Consultancy Newcastle UKDepartment of Medicine, The Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute University of Cambridge Cambridge UKAbstract Genetic research's growing importance in understanding pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and developing effective treatments prompted the RAPID‐PAH study. This study sought feedback from stakeholders who participated in two genomic studies to enhance genetic study delivery and clinical integration. Stakeholders from nine UK PH centres, representing various roles, ages, genders, and mutation statuses, took part in 53 semi‐structured interviews and focus groups. Transcripts were thematically coded using inductive analysis. Clustering analysis was conducted to identify patient groups that shared attitudes. In this paper, we focus on patients', carers', and relatives' perspectives. The key interview themes revealed insights into participants' attitudes toward genetic research and testing more generally, expertise and knowledge of the disease itself, motivations and barriers to participating in genetic research, awareness of and interest in consent procedures and the use of personal and genetic data, as well as the process of communicating individual genetic results. Factors influencing genetic research participation included altruistic motives, personal diagnostic experiences, and family‐related hopes. Clustering analysis produced distinct clusters based on the presence of barriers and motivators for research participation; however, hardly any patients shared identical sets of attitudes, emphasising the need for personalised approaches to recruitment. Most patients reported poor engagement with study‐related materials. Patients who received individual genetic results expressed satisfaction with the process, whereas those who did not were disappointed with the lack of feedback. Reflecting on patient perspectives, we offer recommendations to improve the genetic study delivery process. Enhancing genetic research integration into clinical practice requires tailored engagement, clear communication, and support from healthcare stakeholders.https://doi.org/10.1002/pul2.12346genetic researchinformed consentmotivations and barriers to participationpulmonary arterial hypertensionreturn of individual genetic results
spellingShingle Emilia M. Swietlik
Michaela Fay
Nicholas W. Morrell
Understanding what drives genetic study participation: Perspectives of patients, carers, and relatives
Pulmonary Circulation
genetic research
informed consent
motivations and barriers to participation
pulmonary arterial hypertension
return of individual genetic results
title Understanding what drives genetic study participation: Perspectives of patients, carers, and relatives
title_full Understanding what drives genetic study participation: Perspectives of patients, carers, and relatives
title_fullStr Understanding what drives genetic study participation: Perspectives of patients, carers, and relatives
title_full_unstemmed Understanding what drives genetic study participation: Perspectives of patients, carers, and relatives
title_short Understanding what drives genetic study participation: Perspectives of patients, carers, and relatives
title_sort understanding what drives genetic study participation perspectives of patients carers and relatives
topic genetic research
informed consent
motivations and barriers to participation
pulmonary arterial hypertension
return of individual genetic results
url https://doi.org/10.1002/pul2.12346
work_keys_str_mv AT emiliamswietlik understandingwhatdrivesgeneticstudyparticipationperspectivesofpatientscarersandrelatives
AT michaelafay understandingwhatdrivesgeneticstudyparticipationperspectivesofpatientscarersandrelatives
AT nicholaswmorrell understandingwhatdrivesgeneticstudyparticipationperspectivesofpatientscarersandrelatives