Could there be a way for consumers to gain information on their predisposition to diseases or to tailor fit health care according to their genetic predisposition? Due to the onset of high technology, it is now possible for people to acquire their genetic information through direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing of personal genetic (PG) and personal genomic (PGM) testing. This is especially useful when they want to be knowledgeable about their inherited susceptibility to disease or to have disease treatment tailored fit. Direct to consumer genetic testing has both risks and potential benefits. I believe that consumers should have direct access to genetic testing in order for consumers and healthcare providers to be encouraged to be more proactive with their health. Enabling PG and PGM testing to be directly accessed by consumers would help in early detection of disease and disease management. It also enables health promotion and documentation of individual and family health history (Loud, 2010).
According to the article by Loud (2010), personal Gene and Genomic testing can affect the decision making in all levels of prevention. In the primary prevention it leads to reduction of incidence of disease. In secondary prevention it leads to detection of disease while in the third level it leads to personalized treatments. Lastly, in the quaternary prevention PG and PGM help in improving the quality of life (Loud, 2010).
Currently, there is still a lack of scientific evidence of the benefits of including PG and PGM tests in routine testing.DTC marketing can be a driving force for healthcare providers to be meticulous in assessing family history. As nurses, it is our duty to constantly update our knowledge and skills with regards to genomic technology. This technology will create dramatic changes in healthcare delivery. Direct-to-consumer PG and PGM testing allows consumers to put in efforts in achieving good health and wellbeing.
Reference
Loud, J. (2010). Direct-to-Consumer Genetic and Genomic Testing: Preparing Nurse Practitioners for Genomic Healthcare. The Journal For Nurse Practitioners, 6(8), 585-594.
