SCREENING AND GENETIC-COUNSELING FOR BETA-THALASSEMIA TRAIT IN A POPULATION UNSELECTED FOR INTEREST - EFFECTS ON KNOWLEDGE AND MOOD

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 31  (6) , 718-730
Abstract
To evaluate the effects of genetic screening and counseling in a population unselected for interest, adults in a health maintenance organization (HMO) were screened for .beta.-thalassemia trait as part of health care or multiphasic screening. Counseling was provided by either a trained physician or a videotape containing the same information, followed by an opportunity to question a trained physician. Knowledge of thalassemia, knowledge of genetics, and mood were assessed by standardized questionnaires and by interview immediately before and after counseling. Compared to controls, trait subjects demonstrated significant learning about thalassemia (P < 0.001) and about genetics (P < 0.001) and recorded significant mood changes, namely, surprise (startle) (P < 0.05), increased alertness (decreased deactivation) (P < 0.05), and decreased skepticism (P < 0.01). Screening and genetic counseling for .beta.-thalassemia trait conducted as part of multiphasic screening of the population of a HMO, essentially an unselected population, can result in significant overall learning with acceptable effects on mood.