Article Document Academic Article Information Content Entity Continuant Continuant Journal Article Entity Entity Generically Dependent Continuant 2025-06-24T12:45:29 RDF description of Should health systems share genetic findings with at-risk relatives when the proband is deceased? Interviews with individuals diagnosed with Lynch syndrome - http://repository.healthpartners.com/individual/document-rn30548 Mortality 4 Privacy of Patient Data 20306 Prevention document-rn30548 2022-02-21T22:48:57.408-06:00 Colorectal Cancer Should health systems share genetic findings with at-risk relatives when the proband is deceased? Interviews with individuals diagnosed with Lynch syndrome Genetics 9 Journal of patient-centered research and reviews public Family 10.17294/2330-0698.1945 34712 <p>PURPOSE: Genetic information has health implications for patients and their biological relatives. Death of a patient before sharing a genetic diagnosis with at-risk relatives is a missed opportunity to provide important information that could guide interventions to minimize cancer-related morbidity and mortality in relatives. METHODS: We performed semi-structured interviews with individuals diagnosed with Lynch syndrome at 1 of 4 health systems to explore their perspectives on whether health systems should share genetic risk information with relatives following a patient's death. An inductive, open-coding approach was used to analyze audio-recorded content, with software-generated code reports undergoing iterative comparative analysis by a qualitative research team to identify broad themes and representative participant quotes. RESULTS: Among 23 participating interviewees, 19 supported health systems informing relatives about their Lynch syndrome risk while the remaining 4 were conflicted about patient privacy. Most (n=22) wanted their Lynch syndrome diagnosis shared with relatives if they were unable to share and to be informed of their own risk if a diagnosed relative was unable to share. The most common issues noted regarding information-sharing with relatives included patient privacy and privacy laws (n=8), potential anxiety (n=5), and lack of contact information for relatives (n=3). Interviewee perspectives on how health systems could communicate genetic findings generated a consensus: When - a few months after but within a year of the patient's death; How - explanatory letter and follow-up phone call; and Who - a knowledgeable professional. CONCLUSIONS: Interviews demonstrated strong and consistent perspectives from individuals diagnosed with Lynch syndrome that health systems have a role and responsibility to inform relatives of genetic findings following a patient's death.<p>