Commodification and marketisation of genetic testing through online direct-to-consumer platforms in Hong Kong

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 630-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Zayts ◽  
Zhengpeng Luo
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Genetic Testing ◽  
Hereditary Cancer ◽  
General Public ◽  
General Medicine ◽  
Clinical Genetic ◽  
Aptitude Tests ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Direct To Consumer ◽  
Online Platforms

In this article we examine commodification and marketisation of genetic testing by companies offering direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing to the general public through online platforms in Hong Kong. Recently, offers of genetic testing have expanded from scientific and clinical genetic settings to general medicine (e.g. in hereditary cancer) and non-medical domains (e.g. aptitude tests). The wider availability of tests, however, has raised concerns about the currently available scientifically proven utility of these tests. Using theme-oriented discourse analysis, we analyse the specific discursive modalities through which the DTC companies in Hong Kong make inflated claims about the value of genetic tests to pursue their marketing agenda. We show that in this way the companies are selling ‘more’ than specific products to consumers: they are selling ‘hope’ and ‘increased autonomy’, that is, an opportunity to buy commodities online that promise consumers control of their health and wellbeing.

Attitudes Toward Direct-to-Consumer Advertisements and Online Genetic Testing Among High-Risk Women Participating in a Hereditary Cancer Clinic

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 607-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giselle K. Perez ◽  
Dean G. Cruess ◽  
Stacy Cruess ◽  
Molly Brewer ◽  
Jennifer Stroop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Testing ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Hereditary Cancer ◽  
High Risk Women ◽  
Direct To Consumer ◽  
Hereditary Cancer Clinic ◽  
Cancer Clinic

scholarly journals May direct-to-consumer genetic testing have an impact on general practitioners’ daily practice? a cross-sectional study of patients’ intentions towards this approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Cohidon ◽  
Regula Cardinaux ◽  
Jacques Cornuz ◽  
Robin Chenal ◽  
Béatrice Desvergne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Testing ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
General Medicine ◽  
Participation Rate ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Elevated Risk ◽  
Waiting Room ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Direct To Consumer ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract Background Direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTCGT) offers individuals access to information on their probable risks of suffering from a wide range of chronic diseases. General practitioners (GPs) will probably play a major role in supporting its use, but patients’ perception of DTCGT remain unclear. This study aimed to describe those attitudes and expectations and how they might affect GPs’ daily practices. Methods In 2018–2019, a study related to the use of DTCGT for preventive care in general medicine was conducted among patients in Switzerland’s French-speaking areas. Data were collected in the waiting room using a self-administrated questionnaire about patients’ interest in DTCGT and what their attitudes might be if testing revealed an elevated risk of diabetes, colorectal cancer, or Alzheimer’s disease. Results About 40% of the 929 participating (participation rate about 80%) patients had heard about DTCGT and, once the test had been explained, 43% reported that they would be interested in being tested. If that testing suggested an elevated risk of disease, the majority of patients reported that they would change their lifestyle (65%–81%, depending on the disease), request more examinations (63%–77%), and expect changes in their GP’s follow-up (48%–59%). Personal characteristics such as sex, age, urbanity, marital status, and perceived health were factors predictive of patients’ attitudes. Conclusion Findings indicated that the generalization of DTCGT might affect GPs’ daily practices in terms of workload and knowledge about this approach. However, this result must be qualified by the fact that it is based on hypothetical situations.

Understanding and perception of direct‐to‐consumer genetic testing in Hong Kong

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivian C. C. Hui ◽  
H. C. Li ◽  
Josh H. K. Chow ◽  
Chris S. C. Ng ◽  
Constance Y. W. Lui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Genetic Testing ◽  
Direct To Consumer

Experiences of individuals receiving “Not Parent Expected” (NPE) results through direct-to-consumer genetic testing

2021 ◽  
Vol 132 ◽  
pp. S289
Author(s):  
Julia Becker ◽  
Janey Youngblom ◽  
Brianne Kirkpatrick ◽  
Liane Abrams
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Testing ◽  
Direct To Consumer

scholarly journals An exploratory assessment of the applicability of direct-to-consumer genetic testing to translational research in Japan

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahiro Inoue ◽  
Shota Arichi ◽  
Tsuyoshi Hachiya ◽  
Anna Ohtera ◽  
Seok-Won Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Testing ◽  
Translational Research ◽  
Drug Target ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Alcohol Sensitivity ◽  
Direct To Consumer ◽  
Disease States ◽  
Multiple Phenotypes ◽  
Related Phenotype

Abstract Objective In order to assess the applicability of a direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing to translational research for obtaining new knowledge on relationships between drug target genes and diseases, we examined possibility of these data by associating SNPs and disease related phenotype information collected from healthy individuals. Results A total of 12,598 saliva samples were collected from the customers of commercial service for SNPs analysis and web survey were conducted to collect phenotype information. The collected dataset revealed similarity to the Japanese data but distinguished differences to other populations of all dataset of the 1000 Genomes Project. After confirmation of a well-known relationship between ALDH2 and alcohol-sensitivity, Phenome-Wide Association Study (PheWAS) was performed to find association between pre-selected drug target genes and all the phenotypes. Association was found between GRIN2B and multiple phenotypes related to depression, which is considered reliable based on previous reports on the biological function of GRIN2B protein and its relationship with depression. These results suggest possibility of using SNPs and phenotype information collected from healthy individuals as a translational research tool for drug discovery to find relationship between a gene and a disease if it is possible to extract individuals in pre-disease states by properly designed questionnaire.

scholarly journals Secondary Data Usage in Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing: To What Extent Are Customers Aware and Concerned?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Janessa Mladucky ◽  
Bonnie Baty ◽  
Jeffrey Botkin ◽  
Rebecca Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Testing ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Customer Data ◽  
Secondary Use ◽  
Data Usage ◽  
Direct To Consumer ◽  
New Information ◽  
Opt Out ◽  
Potential Risks

Introduction: Customer data from direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTC GT) are often used for secondary purposes beyond providing the customer with test results. Objective: The goals of this study were to determine customer knowledge of secondary uses of data, to understand their perception of risks associated with these uses, and to determine the extent of customer concerns about privacy. Methods: Twenty DTC GT customers were interviewed about their experiences. The semi-structured interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed for common themes. Results: Most participants were aware of some secondary uses of data. All participants felt that data usage for research was acceptable, but acceptability for non-research purposes varied across participants. The majority of participants were aware of the existence of a privacy policy, but few read the majority of the privacy statement. When previously unconsidered uses of data were discussed, some participants expressed concern over privacy protections for their data. Conclusion: When exposed to new information on secondary uses of data, customers express concerns and a desire to improve consent with transparency, more opt-out options, improved readability, and more information on future uses and potential risks from direct-to-consumer companies. Effective ways to improve readership about the secondary use, risk of use, and protection of customer data should be investigated and the findings implemented by DTC companies to protect public trust in these practices.

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