Level of awareness as the main cause of ethical problems in genetic studies

Abstract

The growth in the use of genetic technologies has shown the high medical efficacy of new methods, but numerous ethical issues have been raised simultaneously. One of them is related to the interest or non-interest in their genetic diseases, predisposition to pathologies, and risks for offspring.

The purpose of the study. To study the distribution of preferences for obtaining genetic information among people of different social groups, and to assess people’s awareness of the opportunities that they receive after genetic research.

Material and methods. The sociological survey was conducted and included 3 questions reflecting the respondent’s attitude to the results of genetic testing, and a short information block explaining the possibilities of medical genetics. After reading the information, respondents were asked to re-answer 3 questions if they intended to change their answers. A total of 116 people aged 18 to 39 were interviewed, including 60 (50.8%) people with medical education and 56 (49.2%) people without medical education.

Results. 39 (33%) people without medical education changed their opinion in a positive direction, and only 17 (14.4%) did not change their opinion. Among people with medical education, the opposite distribution was observed: 16 (13.5%) respondents changed their opinion in a positive direction, and 46 (39.1%) physicians did not. In general, a brief information block had a positive impact on the opinion of respondents in almost half (47.4%) of cases.

Conclusion. The conducted sociological study showed a high dependence on the level of public awareness of the possibilities of medical genetics. This fact testifies to the low awareness of people about the use of genetic information to improve the quality of life and dictates the need for large-scale educational work.

Keywords:genetics, genetic research, perinatal screening, ethical issues in medicine

Funding. The study had no sponsor support.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

For citation: Chernevsky D.K., Rozova E.A., Novopoltseva E.G., Mordvinov A.A. Level of awareness as the main cause of ethical problems in genetic studies. Neonatologiya: novosti, mneniya, obuchenie [Neonatology: News, Opinions, Training]. 2022; 10 (4): 28–33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33029/2308-2402-2022-10-4-28-33 (in Russian)

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CHIEF EDITOR
CHIEF EDITOR
Degtyarev Dmitriy Nikolaevich
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Deputy Director for Scientific Research of the V.I. Kulakov Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology National Medical Research Center of Ministry of Healthсаre of the Russian Federation, Head of the Chair of Neonatology at the Clinical Institute of Children's Health named after N.F. Filatov, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Chairman of the Ethics Committee of the Russian Society of Neonatologists, Moscow, Russian Federation

ORCID iD 0000-0001-8975-2425

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