Oral

Genetics/genomics research promises answers about health disparities. However, minority groups, who often bear disproportionate disease burden, participate in research at low rates. The lack of racially diverse samples inhibits new insights that can result from understanding the molecular, biochemical, and genomic characterizations of biospecimens and impedes the likelihood of developing personalized approaches for disease prevention and treatment. Similarly, family history collection, personal risk education, and genetic testing are becoming increasingly common as tools to encourage disease prevention and healthy behavior. But little is known about how Blacks, Hispanics, and Asian Americans view health and disease within their family and how such views affect their own personal perception of disease risk, with implications for how these populations will understand and utilize genetic technologies and genomic information. The successful design of public health promotion interventions, including newborn screening, rests on a comprehensive understanding of health beliefs as well as a commitment to building trust and partnerships with diverse communities. For people to utilize genetics/genomics services, they must understand what is being offered and trust the individual or institution providing the services. In this session, speakers will describe their unique approaches to engaging Asian American, Black, and Hispanic groups in genetics research as well as dialogue around genetics and health, and analysis of associations between individual messages and parents' decisional conflict around newborn screening will be presented.

Session Objectives: Compare successful approaches to engaging specific communities in genetics/genomics research.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)