Evaluation of the Information Letter to Relatives in the Context of Genetic Assessments

The recent publication of the decree of June 20th 2013 (n° 2013-527) suggests a protocol regarding the transmission of information of the relatives after genetic diagnosis of a serious condition allowing preventative or care measures. In the case a mutation career refuses to directly inform other members of his family, option is to call on services of a genetic professional for the transmission of its family information. This decree includes a specific model of letter that can be sent to relatives by genetic professionals.

The main objective of the present study is the standardization of the procedure concerning the information to relatives by all genetic professionals. It would allow the same format of information in all families involved.

The first part (study 1a) evaluated the understanding and feelings after the reading of the decree's letter (letter A) on patients and the public, through the use of an individual and oral questionnaire. Interviews with the patients, public, genetic professionals and people who have received this letter completed the study 1a (study 1b). A focus group (accounting different genetic professionals and patient associations) composed a new version of letter (letter B) through these observations (study 1c).

The second part will compare the two letters model (A vs B) impact through precise items on three populations: patients, public and genetic professionals. This study will allow to:

• Evaluate how the letter composed by the focus group (letter A) is understood and perceived by the patients and the public with the same methodology as study 1a (study 2a) ;
• Compare the two letters model (A vs B) to describing the preference of patients, public and genetic professionals (study 2b).