Communication in genetic counseling: cognitive and emotional processing

Area of Science:

• Health Communication
• Genetic Counseling
• Psychology

Background:

• Genetic counseling requires effective communication of complex health information.
• Theoretical models offer limited guidance for genetic counselor communication strategies.
• Client comprehension and utilization of genetic information are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze genetic counselor communication using the Social Cognitive Processing Model (SCPM).
• To assess the impact of counselor communication on client processing of health information.
• To identify communication behaviors that enhance client cognitive and emotional processing.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a national sample of 145 genetic counselors with simulated clients.
• Applied Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS) and Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWC) for verbal communication analysis.
• Correlated counselor facilitative communication with client cognitive and emotional processing indicators.

Main Results:

• Counselors effectively facilitated client emotional processing and, to a lesser extent, cognitive processing.
• Clients demonstrated more cognitive than affective processing in their communication.
• Counselor facilitation of emotional expression and insight correlated with increased client negative affect and cognitive processing.

Conclusions:

• Genetic counselors show strengths in facilitating emotional processing, with room for growth in cognitive facilitation.
• Counselor communication strategies impact client information processing and meaning-making.
• Findings suggest educational goals to enhance counselor skills in managing patient emotions and promoting understanding.