PROJECT SUMMARY
Genomic testing through workplace wellness programs, i.e., workplace genomic testing (wGT), is increasingly
being offered by genomic testing vendors. Employers are thought to offer workplace wellness programs with
the goal of improving employee health, and these programs may include wGT. Our NHGRI-funded R01 is
analyzing the perspectives of employers and employees in this sphere to assess the ethical, legal, social, and
policy implications of offering wGT. However, as genetic counselors (GCs) are healthcare professionals who
are trained to interpret genetic test results and counsel individuals who have received such results, they are
also key stakeholders in wGT. Indeed, GCs are anticipated to be at the interface between the wGT results and
an employee's translating those results into practical healthcare benefits, and GC services are often part of
wGT vendor packages. As the workplace is a relatively new area for offering genomic testing, there is an
urgent need to examine GCs' perspectives. Thus, we propose to assess GCs' experiences and views using a
mixed-methods approach.
Toward this end, our team proposes this supplemental research project comprising two Aims. In Aim 1, we will
ascertain the experiences of GCs who have counseled individuals on wGT through interviews with GCs either
1) employed by a vendor (n=10), or 2) not employed by a wGT vendor (n=10). In Aim 2, we will investigate
GCs' experiences, views, and knowledge regarding wGT through a web survey assessing GCs' 1) experiences
with wGT; 2) perceptions of wGT (including perceived risks and benefits of wGT); 3) related counseling
experiences (including accessibility of GCs for wGT); and 4) understanding of genetic privacy and employee
protections.
Impact: The results from this study will reveal GCs' current experiences and views on wGT to inform our
understanding of GCs' perceptions of ELSI issues of wGT in addition to their knowledge gaps of legal
protections applicable to wGT.