Views of ophthalmologists on the genetics of age-related macular degeneration: Results of a qualitative study.
<h4>Background</h4>Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in industrialized countries. It is a multifactorial disease of the retina modified by environmental/individual (e.g. smoking) and genetic factors. 34 independent genomic loci are associated with t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2018-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0209328 |
| _version_ | 1798032695228366848 |
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| author | Julika Loss Daniel Müller Johannes Weigl Horst Helbig Caroline Brandl Iris M Heid Robert P Finger Bernhard H F Weber Janina Curbach |
| author_facet | Julika Loss Daniel Müller Johannes Weigl Horst Helbig Caroline Brandl Iris M Heid Robert P Finger Bernhard H F Weber Janina Curbach |
| author_sort | Julika Loss |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in industrialized countries. It is a multifactorial disease of the retina modified by environmental/individual (e.g. smoking) and genetic factors. 34 independent genomic loci are associated with the risk to develop AMD; an interaction between smoking and genetics is currently investigated. It is unclear how the knowledge on the strong genetic component has entered the knowledge base of practicing ophthalmologists, and how they inform and counsel their (AMD) patients about it. In this study, we explore the ophthalmologists' view on AMD genetics, and their inclination towards communicating genetic risks to patients.<h4>Methods</h4>We recruited a purposive sample of thirty German ophthalmologists (office based: n = 15, hospital employees: n = 15, f:8/30), who took part in a recorded semi-standardized interview. Transcripts were analyzed using content analysis.<h4>Results</h4>The majority of office-based ophthalmologists claimed to be unfamiliar with genetics of AMD, in contrast to hospital-affiliated ophthalmologists. Both office and hospital ophthalmologists were convinced that genetics lacks practical relevance in everyday patient care. Many withhold information on heritability or genetic background of AMD from patients and their relatives, for fear of unsettling those individuals. The relevance of the genetic component of AMD or an individuals' high genetic risk for prevention, e.g. screening or lifestyle modifications in persons with adverse genetic profile, was rated low.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Developing genetic educational programs tailored to the routine care of ophthalmologists may be indicated, as well as a better two-way communication between research and practice. Exploring patient views about their expectations to being informed about genetic disease etiology, or about their individual risk, would help inform communication strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:17:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4c28e39022b4423493333d77ee3239ed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:17:48Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-4c28e39022b4423493333d77ee3239ed2022-12-22T04:04:54ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032018-01-011312e020932810.1371/journal.pone.0209328Views of ophthalmologists on the genetics of age-related macular degeneration: Results of a qualitative study.Julika LossDaniel MüllerJohannes WeiglHorst HelbigCaroline BrandlIris M HeidRobert P FingerBernhard H F WeberJanina Curbach<h4>Background</h4>Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in industrialized countries. It is a multifactorial disease of the retina modified by environmental/individual (e.g. smoking) and genetic factors. 34 independent genomic loci are associated with the risk to develop AMD; an interaction between smoking and genetics is currently investigated. It is unclear how the knowledge on the strong genetic component has entered the knowledge base of practicing ophthalmologists, and how they inform and counsel their (AMD) patients about it. In this study, we explore the ophthalmologists' view on AMD genetics, and their inclination towards communicating genetic risks to patients.<h4>Methods</h4>We recruited a purposive sample of thirty German ophthalmologists (office based: n = 15, hospital employees: n = 15, f:8/30), who took part in a recorded semi-standardized interview. Transcripts were analyzed using content analysis.<h4>Results</h4>The majority of office-based ophthalmologists claimed to be unfamiliar with genetics of AMD, in contrast to hospital-affiliated ophthalmologists. Both office and hospital ophthalmologists were convinced that genetics lacks practical relevance in everyday patient care. Many withhold information on heritability or genetic background of AMD from patients and their relatives, for fear of unsettling those individuals. The relevance of the genetic component of AMD or an individuals' high genetic risk for prevention, e.g. screening or lifestyle modifications in persons with adverse genetic profile, was rated low.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Developing genetic educational programs tailored to the routine care of ophthalmologists may be indicated, as well as a better two-way communication between research and practice. Exploring patient views about their expectations to being informed about genetic disease etiology, or about their individual risk, would help inform communication strategies.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0209328 |
| spellingShingle | Julika Loss Daniel Müller Johannes Weigl Horst Helbig Caroline Brandl Iris M Heid Robert P Finger Bernhard H F Weber Janina Curbach Views of ophthalmologists on the genetics of age-related macular degeneration: Results of a qualitative study. PLoS ONE |
| title | Views of ophthalmologists on the genetics of age-related macular degeneration: Results of a qualitative study. |
| title_full | Views of ophthalmologists on the genetics of age-related macular degeneration: Results of a qualitative study. |
| title_fullStr | Views of ophthalmologists on the genetics of age-related macular degeneration: Results of a qualitative study. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Views of ophthalmologists on the genetics of age-related macular degeneration: Results of a qualitative study. |
| title_short | Views of ophthalmologists on the genetics of age-related macular degeneration: Results of a qualitative study. |
| title_sort | views of ophthalmologists on the genetics of age related macular degeneration results of a qualitative study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0209328 |
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