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A content analysis of the views of genetics professionals on race, ancestry, and genetics.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nelson, SC; Yu, J-H; Wagner, JK; Harrell, TM; Royal, CD; Bamshad, MJ
Published in: AJOB empirical bioethics
October 2018

Over the past decade, the proliferation of genetic studies on human health and disease has reinvigorated debates about the appropriate role of race and ancestry in research and clinical care. Here we report on the responses of genetics professionals to a survey about their views on race, genetics, and ancestry across the domains of science, medicine, and society. Through a qualitative content analysis of free-text comments from 515 survey respondents, we identified key themes pertaining to multiple meanings of race, the use of race as a proxy for genetic ancestry, and the relevance of race and ancestry to health. Our findings suggest that for many genetics professionals the questions of what race is and what race means remain both professionally and personally contentious. Looking ahead as genomics is translated into the practice of precision medicine and as learning health care systems offer continued improvements in care through integrated research, we argue for nuanced considerations of both race and genetic ancestry across research and care settings.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

AJOB empirical bioethics

DOI

EISSN

2329-4523

ISSN

2329-4515

Publication Date

October 2018

Volume

9

Issue

4

Start / End Page

222 / 234

Related Subject Headings

  • Research Personnel
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Genomics
  • Genetic Research
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Female
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • 5001 Applied ethics
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
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Nelson, S. C., Yu, J.-H., Wagner, J. K., Harrell, T. M., Royal, C. D., & Bamshad, M. J. (2018). A content analysis of the views of genetics professionals on race, ancestry, and genetics. AJOB Empirical Bioethics, 9(4), 222–234. https://doi.org/10.1080/23294515.2018.1544177
Nelson, Sarah C., Joon-Ho Yu, Jennifer K. Wagner, Tanya M. Harrell, Charmaine D. Royal, and Michael J. Bamshad. “A content analysis of the views of genetics professionals on race, ancestry, and genetics.AJOB Empirical Bioethics 9, no. 4 (October 2018): 222–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/23294515.2018.1544177.
Nelson SC, Yu J-H, Wagner JK, Harrell TM, Royal CD, Bamshad MJ. A content analysis of the views of genetics professionals on race, ancestry, and genetics. AJOB empirical bioethics. 2018 Oct;9(4):222–34.
Nelson, Sarah C., et al. “A content analysis of the views of genetics professionals on race, ancestry, and genetics.AJOB Empirical Bioethics, vol. 9, no. 4, Oct. 2018, pp. 222–34. Epmc, doi:10.1080/23294515.2018.1544177.
Nelson SC, Yu J-H, Wagner JK, Harrell TM, Royal CD, Bamshad MJ. A content analysis of the views of genetics professionals on race, ancestry, and genetics. AJOB empirical bioethics. 2018 Oct;9(4):222–234.

Published In

AJOB empirical bioethics

DOI

EISSN

2329-4523

ISSN

2329-4515

Publication Date

October 2018

Volume

9

Issue

4

Start / End Page

222 / 234

Related Subject Headings

  • Research Personnel
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Genomics
  • Genetic Research
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Female
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • 5001 Applied ethics