© Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2018 173
P. McCarthy Veach et al., Facilitating the Genetic Counseling Process,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74799-6_7
Chapter 7
Collaborating with Patients: Providing
Information and Facilitating Patient
Decision-Making
Learning Objectives- Describe skills and strategies needed to effectively provide information
and communicate risk. - Identify factors that impact risk perception.
- Identify some of the major factors affecting patient decision-making.
- Develop skills for facilitating patient decision-making through self-
reflection, practice, and feedback.
Providing information and facilitating patient decision-making are two genetic
counseling competencies that incorporate a set of skills that are fundamental to
genetic counseling practice. The principal focus of genetic counseling sessions will
vary depending upon the needs of the patient and family. For instance, parents of a
newborn with a neural tube defect may mostly need support and resources. Other
sessions involve patients who are facing one or more decisions or are just starting to
deal with a complicated diagnosis; providing information and facilitating decision-
making are essential interventions in such sessions.
Two tenets of the Reciprocal-Engagement Model of genetic counseling practice
are particularly relevant to providing information and facilitating patient decisions.
The first is “genetic information is key,” with these related goals: (1) the counselor
knows what information to impart; (2) the counselor presents genetic information;
(3) the patient is informed; and (4) the patient gains new perspective. The second
relevant tenet is “patient autonomy must be supported” with one major related goal
being that the genetic counselor facilitates collaborative decisions (McCarthy Veach
et al. 2007 ). In addition, genetic counselors affirm their ethical responsibilities with
regard to providing information and facilitating patient decisions in their Code of
Ethics (COE) (The National Society of Genetic Counselors 2017 ). Specifically, the
National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) COE states that genetic counselors
strive to “Seek out and acquire balanced, accurate and relevant information required