Family Physicians’ Awareness and Knowledge of the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA)

Family Physicians’ Awareness and Knowledge of the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA)

Historically, physicians have expressed concern about their patients’ risk of genetic discrimination, which has acted as a barrier to uptake of genetic services. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) is intended to protect patients against employer and health insurance discrim...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of genetic counseling Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 345 - 352
Main Authors: Laedtke, Amanda L., O’Neill, Suzanne M., Rubinstein, Wendy S., Vogel, Kristen J.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: New York Springer US 01-04-2012
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Subjects:
Awareness
Biomedicine
Clinical Psychology
Discrimination
Doctors
employment
Ethics
Family physicians
General practitioners
Genetic
Genetic counseling
Genetic factors
Genetic privacy
genetic screening
Genetic testing
Genetics
GINA
Government regulation
Gynecology
Health insurance
Historical account
Human Genetics
Humans
Insurance
Knowledge management
Legislation
Life insurance
long-term care
Original Research
Physicians, Family - psychology
Prejudice
Public Health
Social interactions
United States
United States
Discrimination
GINA
Insurance
Government regulation
Genetic
Genetic testing
Genetic privacy
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Historically, physicians have expressed concern about their patients’ risk of genetic discrimination, which has acted as a barrier to uptake of genetic services. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) is intended to protect patients against employer and health insurance discrimination. Physicians’ awareness and knowledge of GINA has yet to be evaluated. In 2009, we mailed surveys to 1500 randomly selected members of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Questions measured physicians’ current knowledge of GINA and their level of concern for genetic discrimination. In total, 401 physicians completed the survey (response rate 26.9%). Approximately half (54.5%) of physicians had no awareness of GINA. Of physicians who reported basic knowledge of GINA, the majority were aware of the protections offered for group health insurance (92.7%), private health insurance (82.9%), and employment (70.7%). Fewer physicians were aware of GINA’s limitations regarding life insurance (53.7%) and long-term care insurance (58.8%). Physicians demonstrated highest levels of concern for health insurance, life insurance, and long-term care insurance discrimination, with less concern for employer and family/social discrimination. Level of concern for the risk of genetic discrimination did not correlate significantly with awareness of GINA. Approximately 17 months after GINA was signed into federal law, physicians’ knowledge remained limited regarding the existence of this legislation and relevant details. Physicians who are aware of GINA continue to have significant concerns regarding the risk of genetic discrimination. This study reveals the need to further educate physicians about the existence of GINA and the protections offered.
Bibliography:Support
Family Practice Physicians’ Awareness and Knowledge of GINA. Platform presentation at the National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Education Conference, October 17th, 2010. Dallas, TX.
Prior Presentation
Northwestern University Graduate Program of Genetic Counseling and Center for Medical Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem. This work was performed in partial fulfillment for a Master's degree (ALL).
ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
content type line 23
ObjectType-Article-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
ISSN:1059-7700
1573-3599
DOI:10.1007/s10897-011-9405-6