Many private companies offer genetic testing directly to consumers
(i.e., without the mediation of clinical staff, genetic counselors, or other
professionals). One of the major
concerns public health practitioners, health professionals, and other stakeholders
have with this is how those not fluent in genomics or medicine may manage their
decisions based on the potential abundance of genetic risks communicated. Do targeted services, such as personalized
diets for weight loss, circumvent or compound this problem? Does Inherent Health adequately explain their
methods? Would more information on the
tests and/or genetic information reported to clients be more beneficial or
harmful?
The more information private genetic testing companies provide to their consumers, the more informed they will be. But that doesn't necessarily mean the consumer will know how to effectively utilize that information to produce the best possible health outcomes. Although Inherent Health offers consulting services and advice from health professionals, that is an extra step in the direct-to-consumer process, and I think consumers are likely to take in the information without seeking out additional resources to interpret those results. They may apply their results to what they've heard on the news, or what their friends have done in similar situations. The whole point of direct-to-consumer is convenience and fast results, without having to consult a doctor. But physician consultation should be mandated for those who choose to get genetic tests from private companies, in order to ensure that the information is not misinterpreted or misused. The way Inherent Health is currently structured, that service seems to be optional, which does not guarantee that the results they produce will be effectively used by the consumer. So while I don't think more information for the consumer is harmful, companies must take caution in how they present the information, and in what context the consumers should take particular advice. It could be highly dangerous and stressful for consumers to obtain information about their genetics and health, without having a way to interpret the true impact on their daily lives.
ReplyDeleteEven though Inherent Health explains their methods very well and provides resources where customers can receive counseling and consulting services to help interpret their genetic information, it seems that these direct to consumer companies only compound the problem. As previous posters have said, the tests that Inherent Health provides are not absolutely necessary to the everyday person's health, and the results that people obtain could be misinterpreted and cause unnecessary worry. But it also depends on the type of consumer. For example, I have information about my genome from 23andme and I appreciate the information. This may only be because I am interested in the health care field and find the information useful. However, I can see how it could be harmful for others to know unnecessary genetic information. Overall, I think that Inherent Health does a good job explaining their methods and providing other resources, direct to consumer testing may not be useful at all for those who do not have any other reason to obtain the information.
ReplyDeleteLike all direct to consumer companies, Inherent Health targets the less fluent consumers, who are not necessarily familiar with genomics. By targeting this population, Inherent Health further compounds the problem regarding inappropriate use of genetic information. Consumers who invest in this testing are not offered the professional counseling needed to explain the significance of the results. Inherent Health merely includes a free consultation with a “Genetic Professional,” which is a very vague title in itself. I think the idea of determining the most healthy and effective lifestyle based on individual genetics is innovative and potentially life changing; however, I also believe that genetic testing should not be done without the mediation of genetic counselors and/or other medical professionals. Because most consumers do not understand the implications of genetic tests, I feel that DTC companies like Inherent Health will only cause greater confusion and misconception among consumers.
ReplyDeleteBefore we can discuss the consumer's knowledge and their needs we must first understand that Inherent Health is a business. This means that they have some product or service to be sold in order to make money. With this being said I believe their services are what consumers are generally interested in more than understanding how the whole process works.
ReplyDeleteDespite that consumers may not even care about the science behind targeted services like weight loss and genetic summaries about a client's body it is clear about one thing and that is to help the consumer. With this being said, I would support inherent health even with the absence of complete understanding from the consumer's point of view.
Some issues, however, are inevitable. These issues are whether or not targeted services will hurt the consumer, the risk of interpreting the data inaccurately, and the lack of professional opinion. I believe the issue of these genetic tests can both hurt and help the consumer depending on the consumer's knowledge of genetics. This can be prevented if physicians and clinicians are closely monitoring a patient's genetic information as well as inherent health's interpretation. With a personal doctor, the amount of genetic information may cause stress but in the end it will ultimately benefit the consumer.
Inherent health, in this link, does not adequately explain their strategy with depth. Instead they explain the services they provide and provide credibility with their services. Nothing about how they find personal genetic data is actually seen on this link.
I concur with most previous posters that misinterpretation of information by the less educated person could lead to a majority of problems. However, this site is mainly dealing with weight loss regiments that are tailored to the specific person. People can go on the Internet now and read a whole lot of crazy weight loss/ diet plans that are extremely unhealthy and much more dangerous then this website would be giving. I think this site offers a valid source of tailored info to people wanting to learn about their specific weight loss plan. Given that the site puts it into plain, non-scientific and confusing, language and is offering generally safe and, for lack of a better word, good advice, I think it might be a good thing to have people be more knowledgeable about how metabolism and things work rather then some ignorant people who may just think eating less food in general will help them loose weight. The last aim of this site mentions “ understanding available medicines or preventative care…” I believe that this part of the information is, however, something that should be confirmed with a doctor face-to-face to eliminate any emotional or harmful behavior. However, assuming this site does not hand out a prescription for anything I think it is implied that if the person wanted to take the medical advice on prescriptions then they would have no choice but to go see a doctor near by. Overall, I think I see more good in this then harm.
ReplyDeleteAfter our lecture on direct-to-consumer testing, I was able to see both the pros and cons of this type of genetic testing. Personally, I feel that providing consumers, who don’t have a strong background in genetics, with an overwhelming amount of genetic information would not be useful and instead may instigate panic. Furthermore, as a consumer, I would not want to receive information if I would be likely to misunderstand the information, and didn’t have the resources or connections to someone else who could help me interpret it. Managing important lifestyle decisions such as weight loss, which affect ones health, should not be made merely from a surface level, potentially incorrect interpretation of genetic information. Depending specifically on the situation and company, targeted services can compound or circumvent the problem of providing genetic information to consumers who don’t understand it. If the company only offers the raw genetic information, then the targeted service compounds the problem. If the company also offers the consumer a counseling session with a professional to interpret the results along with the genetic results, then the targeted service circumvents the problem. Thus, the benefits of targeted services depend on what specifically they offer – simply the results, or interpretation as well.
ReplyDeleteInherent Health, in my opinion, did not specifically explain their methods. They said that the genetic results would allow individuals to develop personalized exercise regimens, understand their diet, etc. But I didn’t know how they were sequencing my genetic information, what sample they were going to use, whether I was making my personalized exercise plans based of the results they gave me, or whether they were going to tell me my exercise plan based of my genetic results. Thus many of the specifics were unclear to me. Although they did include that customers would have access to a genetic professional to discuss their results. Overall, I think that being able to interpret genetic tests properly is more important than just having more and more raw genetic information thrown at you – especially if it can be misinterpreted.
Targeted services such as Inherent Health’s direct-to-consumer “health improvement” genetic tests compound the problem of people making medical decisions based on non-clinical information. Not only do direct-to-consumer genetic tests normally not include guidance from medical clinicians to help them decipher their information, but the information itself could be highly likely to be not based on that much medical information. Inherent Health does not adequately explain their methods. They basically just say that they’ll send you a kit, your send it back, and you get your results. It does not explain the actual testing process that is done, what they do with your sample after the fact, how they protect your confidentiality, or what you should do should you have further questions or want assistance interpreting the results. I think that more information would be more helpful as it would help people make the best, most well-informed decisions about whether or not they should take and purchase the test, whether they should seek this test from a physician, whether this test is actually necessary, etc. I think that specifically in terms of nutrition and well-being, for the purposes that Inherent Health uses it, that more genetic testing will not be more helpful. For people who have difficulty losing weight and/or maintaining physical health on their own, I do not think that a genetic test/genetic information will help, especially if this information is not explained.
ReplyDeleteInherent Health at first seems to be very appealing and helpful, but when faced with the question of whether they adequately explain their methods or not, I would say no. They pinpoint how people could benefit from their tests and they almost seem to be flaunting their credibility by mentioning where their scientific advisers are from as well as how they are a part of Interleukin Genetics, Inc. and how they continue to publish peer-reviewed articles. They do not go into depth about the tests offered and what they mean. I think more information on tests and genetic information reported to clients could be beneficial or harmful depending on the situation. In most cases though, I would say that if a person is paying to have a test done, they should be given all the information they need and have a right to know. Targeted services such as personalized diets for weight loss appeal to many people, causing them to forget about what is more important. It is hard to tell whether this program truly exists for the benefit of people who need help with their health. It seems as if there are some ulterior motives behind the services they offer. If people are being attended to by those who do not have a well-rounded knowledge of genomics and medicine, inaccurate information may be given out and the wrong aspects may be focused on, which I see as a big issue.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what most posts have said above. Inherent Health does explain their methods and providing genetic help, however I think overall it just compounds the problem with DTC testing. As a person with a background in health, I can read the website and understand what the implications of my results could mean. Someone without a background in genetics or biology could be extremely overwhelmed with their results and not fully comprehend the meaning of them.
ReplyDeleteI also think that Inherent Health does not explain the methods well enough for someone with no background in science. It basically just says that you get the test, send in the kit, and get your results. It does not explain a person's right to privacy and confidentiality. It does not give an explanation of what the results mean either. I think the idea of Inherent Health is good but they should work with doctors to ensure that people interpret the information correctly instead of working directly to the consumer.
I think that the emergence of sites like InherentHealth are the product of our society's emphasis on individualization. We, as Americans, respect and enjoy the feeling of taking control of our own lives and decisions, and rightly so. But when this sentiment leaks into the healthcare sector, there are bound to be problems.
ReplyDeleteThe truth of the matter is that most Americans have little to no deep knowledge of the science behind their health, and this includes genetics. And then businesses have the potential to emerge and profit. While what InherentHealth claims to do is positive, I can't help but wonder how much they actually care about what they claim versus how much they care about their profits.
I think that the only way that our society can truly benefit from websites such as this is after our collective understanding of the science behind our bodies is made much more widespread.
This DTC company seems to be more beneficial than the genetic tests that we reviewed earlier in the semester. Unlike the past DTC companies such as 23 and me, Inherent Health provides "experts" to help after receiving the results of the genetic tests.
ReplyDeleteHowever, DTC still has downsides. One example is that it does not go through medical professionals. Although experts in genetics may be there to help the customer, the customer would not have access to a medical professional's advice. Also, genetic testing may reveal a risk that can cause fear in the costumer even if the risk is very minimal.
Inherent Health did not explain their method well. The mostly talked about the benefits of the test but did not say how they were going to conduct the test. They were very vague about the steps that had to be taken. Of course, this may be a way to help customers who have no prior scientific knowledge to understand the procedure in simple terms.
Finally, the way they target weight loss and living healthier is a great advertisement but makes us wonder if that is the only factor that comes with testing our DNA.
Companies such as Inherent Health are breaking into a new and untapped market of offering personalized care and genetic testing to individuals. While these companies have every right to market themselves and develop as they wish, this does pose some problems for consumers.
ReplyDeleteSome consumers may not know about genetics and the implications for their health, so utilizing these targeted services without the help of health
professionals who know the consumers can pose a problem and leave consumers in the dark about the companies methods. Individuals who wish to use these services should also complement their health care with people in real life to be more beneficial and not cause harm.
The only problem I see in DTC genome sequencing is when incorrect information is given. In this case, I would have to apply a principle of the business ethicist, Albert Carr. He suggests that so long as a business is legal and profitable it is ethical. To go off of that, I think that as long as the DTC is not misinforming clients than there is no problem. Consumers should be smart enough to know that by not getting your genome tested in a medical setting, there is some chance that the results might not be entirely scientific. Unless the company is lying to the client, nothing that they are doing strikes me as unethical. Additionally, I don’t think there need to be tight regulations on this business either. Maybe this is a libertarian perspective, but free markets are better for societies than highly regulated markets. People will only pay what they are willing to spend on this kind of service, so if people want a customized diet based on their genes let them have that. Furthermore the dieting industry in highly profitable in the US, so from a business point of view it is strategically to capitalize on these new technologies.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteEven though Inherent Health offers opportunities for their customers to interact with a licensed genetic professional, genetic testing without the approval of a physician, genetic counselors, or other health professionals could be dangerous to the consumer. This company is targeting the general public who aren’t necessarily fluent in genomics or medicine and may make a decision that could bring potential harm rather than benefits. In America, people are obsessed with diets and weight loss so by targeting into this topic, more consumers would buy into the product. I believe consumers should consult their physicians first to see if they would recommend this genetic testing from the company. Then they should follow up with the physician and see how to alter their diet based on the test. Obviously, they seek this genetic testing because of the lower-cost; but in the end, they are really risking their health.
This organization seems legitimate and helpful at a first glance. The services they offer seem like good options and a great way to personalize health plans. I do find it encouraging that they will offer counseling from a trained genetic counselor but aside from that point I am a little wary of this organization. First of all, the information has not been updated since 2009 and since it is almost 2014 this is concerning to me. I also am concerned about their claims concerning super personalization based on the genome. I feel as though it would be better to sequence the genome to identify possible deficiencies, intolerances, or proclivities as opposed to defining a better fad diet. There are also issues concerning our knowledge base when correlating the specific genes to nutrition requirements.
ReplyDeleteI feel that I may be a little biased in this situation. I am not really a fan of any kind of Direct to Consumer genetic testing because of the high probability that the results could be misinterpreted, especially if there is no one to help relay the information in an understandable way to the individual. In this case, I am still not a fan of DTC testing. I believe there are other paths that an individual can take in order to deal with health and nutrition issues. One can get in touch with a nutritionist, a personal trainer, or even a physician to talk about possible ways to tackle diet implementation and weight loss strategies. If the individual is determined to find results of genetic predisposition to exercising, motivation, or nutrition (as we discussed in class earlier), he /she can have the physician order the test and interpret it for the patient themselves or have a geneticist weigh in. Overall, I think that these kinds of personalized tests could compound the problem that DTC testing already has issues with.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the website, I think that Inherent Health is not very clear in their information. It seems like they tried to put the information in layman’s terms but it was too broad and general. They didn’t go into any details about any kind of test or research that they do. Instead, they simply listed it like it was a task that was completed. I definitely think that more information about the tests would be a lot more beneficial to the clients who order these tests. Even if people don’t understand the full extent of the testing, I think that a summation should be included, which goes into a little more depth than what is already written in there.
Although Inherent Health seems like a legitimate site and business, I am still a little skeptical since I personally would not use or support DTC. It seems to target customers who are not necessarily familiar with genetic testing or genetics. Many of the information present can be misinterpreted and could compound the problem. In addition, they don't really provide the methods. I wouldn't go ahead and do this without consulting with a health professional or physician. However I could be wrong and the tests could be very beneficial to the public.
ReplyDeleteI think that targeted services are compounding the problem of misinformation because a lot of times these companies are merely in the market for profit and so a lot of their resources go into the the economic side of their business rather than caring for their clients and making sure that they fully understand all of the information.
ReplyDeleteInherent Health does not adequately explain their methods and they leave much to be desired. A lot of what they have posted is pretty vague and does not delve into exactly what they do. I understand this may be because most people do not have sufficient medical understanding to know all of the details. This should be solved by making sure a medical professional is available for patients as they browse through online personalized sites.
I share in the concern that most people probably visit these sites lacking the information necessary to make informed decisions. I think that this is something that must be addressed so that people do not end up purchasing products they may regret.
Inherent Health appears to be a legitimate website, however I will always be skeptical about direct consumer genetic testing. This website effectively appeals consumers, but this could lead to problems with the public. They may purchase genetic testing because they are attracted to the website and they may not know how to interpret the results. It is good that Inherent Health provides consultation, however, they may want consumers to purchase more genetic testing. I probably wouldn’t purchase genetics tests from Inherent Health.
ReplyDeleteAt face value, Inherent Health seems wonderful but I have no idea whether or not I should trust their commitment to “providing the most reliable, scientifically-based useful genetic tests to our customers.” The fact that they list ”understanding the dietary supplements best suited to them” as a major selling point to improve one’s health is dubious. If they actually listened to all the scientists at the universities they name-dropped, then they would know that the use of dietary supplements is negligible unless you’re 85 and need fiber or are deficient in other nutrients, something that is rarely based in genetics. Even if it is, you don’t need a genetic test to tell you that you’re anemic or lack Vitamin D. Chances are, your doctor already noticed, assuming you see them.
ReplyDeleteBut the bottom line is, if your diet is proper, which apparently it will be if you listen to Inherent Health, you will not need any supplementation. It seems that you would only need supplementation if Inherent Health didn’t deliver on their other claims, adding to the dubious nature of the description. Perhaps I’m making too big a deal of this but 999 times out of 1,000, if someone is pushing dietary supplements, it’s not your health they’re after: it’s your money. The other bullet points seem sound enough, at least to a layperson like me.
Physicians have a good idea as to how much information a patient should be bothered with, especially a PCP who has a relationship with their patients. Genetic counselors would also be more suited for advising patients and figuring out what they do and do not want to know. Someone who does not have financial stake is best.
Inherent Health most certainly does not adequately explain their methods. All they really do is thrust fancy universities in your face without exactly saying what they do, at least on the page to which we’re linked. A healthcare provider should always be involved in advising and interpreting results. This would increase the benefit and decrease the harm of those results.
The whole dynamic of weight loss programs is very business-like and it seems like all they want is your money. They exploit the use of genetic testing in order to promote business and profits that seem to be honestly, a waste of money. I commend them for trying to promote healthier lifestyles however this does not have to be done through genetic testing. If you have a gene that is linked to obesity, should you adhere to their weight loss program? Those are the questions consumers would ask if they were on their website however if you did contain the gene, you'd already notice that your weight is above average and if not, then the lifestyle you are living right now is most likely healthy and well and does not need any intervention to tell you otherwise. The website does not explain clearly their steps and procedures of their genetic testing use and quite frankly, do not seem to be very credible. They just want you to purchase their "packages" of healthy living. I do not believe more information on the tests would be beneficial to the consumers because I feel that they would produce results that recommend you buy their products anyway. This would only confuse the consumers and trick them into thinking that their lifestyles are not healthy (even if they were) and would waste their money.
ReplyDeleteI think Inherent Health looks like another typical website trying to sell their product. Whether or not they have good intentions, they are definitely trying to market their genetic test to consumers. They also focus a lot on bone and heart health and dieting. I think that genetic testing can be helpful if you have a history of a dangerous disease and want to be proactive about it. However, getting a test to tell you how to change your diet seems a bit ridiculous to me. They just know how to word things to make it sound like you need it in order to eat right. I think something that Inherent Health's homepage does well is bold the flashy phrase in each paragraph that they want the readers to take home. Because ultimately they are not going to process everything that is said on the website but they will remember reading those things.
ReplyDeleteThe site really seems too good to be true. The website is very well done and would definitely catch the attention of potential buyers. It uses such trivial explanations that most likely make those who are uneducated in the world of DTC testing and genetics think that what they are purchasing is legit. Also, in a time where everyone is trying to find the best diet or weight loss program to go on, so many are going to fall for Inherent Health. I am worried that consumers will not understand their results and that could potentially be harmful. Some may take their recommendations to extremes and could even be given false information. I am also skeptical that they talk so much about their high credential-physicians and scientists but do not say that consumers will be able to be in contact with any of them. We have learned in class that tests can give very different results despite testing for the same thing. I guess I personally do not think that DTC testing is positive, especially for those who do not understand the risks or the information they are receiving. There needs to be an educated physician and genetic counselor with a patient to discern important results and further actions.
ReplyDeleteAfter glancing around on their website, I believe that targeted services for personalized diets and exercise will only exacerbate the situation because they are trying to entertain an uneducated audience. Their website gives overly optimistic statements and explanations to genetic testing. When genetics testing was a lot less popularized, its target audience was pregnant mothers with family histories of illnesses. This audience was a lot more selective and had a fairly decent education level. Since this site will be opening up targeted services like dieting and weight loss, this will inevitably open up the audience to a very broad range of people with varying education levels. Honestly, I don't believe DTC testing should be allowed for everyone and anyone, because of the greater potential harm it can cause. Perhaps someone receives back information saying that eating carrots will make them happier and more healthier. Sure the fact may be true, but the patient may take this to an extreme. Maybe putting carrots in every meal he or she eats (probably turning her skin pigmentation orange). This example, even though quite silly, is an important situation to think about. Interpretation of information will be different for every individual. As education level rises however, interpretation of information focuses and can set apart from extremes. In less educated populations, extreme interpretations are harder to avoid and can be detrimental to a persons health and well being.
ReplyDeleteI believe there's a lot of initiative and potential in these companies. However, without proper direction or responsibility, this information can do more harm than good. People who go to get these tests done want to ultimately be healthier and live happier. If they don't know how to properly interpret results, testing can do more harm than good. People can drastically change their habits either unnecessarily or harmfully. If there isn't a counselor or clinician to help guide someone through the meaning and practicality of their results, it's not ethical to throw genetic results at people. Even in terms of the scientific community, if the meaning of certain genetic information is not fact, it's not fair for a company to hint that something might or might not be harmful. In terms of all these possibilities that can come with a genetic test, far more information should be available to consumers on the website of a company offering the service. It's not ethical to keep any of the potential harms or dangers that can result from getting the tests done. However, long pages of ethics and potential risks doesn't sell a product--so unless laws or regulations are passed addressing the issue, you're not going to see much change.
ReplyDeleteI think these targeted services are both beneficial and detrimental depending on the situation. If this information is presented to someone who has a good understanding about why and how they were diagnosed and what they should really do to overcome their genetic predisposition to these diseases, then yes they should be able to use genetics to lose weight. This is a great breakthrough for people who have the ability to understand these results and take them with a grain of salt and only incorporate them into their diets. However, the downside is for people who may not completely understand genetics, nutrition, and other aspects of health and they may use these results to an extreme and the bigger problem may be circumvented because they might not take the right actions and further worsen their problems or develop new problems if their new diet isn't balanced.
ReplyDeleteI don't think inherent health adequately explains their methods, they are very general and broad and doesn't allow much information to be absorbed by the consumer. They give 6 basic steps that I probably could have made up on my own. I don't think they are being transparent enough for the educated consumer. Some people like to know more and understand what they are signing up for. I don't think this test allows that.
I think more information on these tests would be beneficial because it would intrigue people and make them feel more inclined to use this test. When I first saw the website I thought it was a cool idea but then as I searched for more information to understand the proccess and educate myself, I was left disappointed becuase I didn't know exactly what they were going to do with my DNA to figure out the information. Also, if they gave more information it would make them more credible. Do they really even have a test or are they making up lies?
I think that targeted services are an attempt to circumvent the problem, but that it does not plausibly represent an adequate alternative to professional one on one guidance. The benefit to having a doctor review results and discuss with you how to proceed is that it is truly tailored to you based on what the doctor sees and feels. We are more than what is written on our genome, which is demonstrated by how environment can influence disease etiology and other epigenetic factors. A result of a genetic test only tells part of a story, and it does not provide reasoning and discussion as to why someone should change their lifestyle in such a way. Also, without people understanding and internalizing why they want to make a lifestyle change, there is very little chance that it will stick.
ReplyDeleteInherent Health does not do much as far as methods, they simply tell you that you get a test that leads to a suggested diet program. There really isn't a discussion of how. I think that more information provided to clients would be beneficial if it was provided in the right way. The lay person does not have much medical knowledge, so the information would have to be provided as simplistically as possibly. This is one of the main reasons why involving physicians and genetic counselors is the accepted practice: these people are knowledgeable about the data and its implications and are able to relay that information in a way that is understandable.
I believe that genetic tests, such as the ones offered by Inherent Health, circumvent the problem but do not present an adequate alternative. While they simplify the process and allow people to customize the tests that they take, there still may confusion based on the results. It is still important to talk about the results with a medical professional, and this is not the case with Inherent Health tests.
ReplyDeleteI also do not believe that Inherent Health adequately explains their methods. They spell out a few basic steps, and have a very simple explanation of how they do it. Additionally, I think that more information would be harmful to the patient. Not in the sense of causing physical harm, but more so in the fact that more information can be very confusing, especially without the guidance of a medical professional.
ReplyDeleteTargeted services can both circumvent and compound this problem. The effect is contingent upon the extensivity of services provided by the company, and the messages they produce. Inherent Health has a noble goal, but if they are unable to convince their consumers to seek additional help from medical professionals or to follow through with diet/exercise plans, then their efforts are counterproductive. Targeted services are useful tools for those well-versed in genomics and/or medicine; these individuals could use the abundance of genetic risks as a driving force to change their lifestyle behaviors. However, for those who are not fluent in genomics or medicine, the information may be too overwhelming to handle. This sense of overwhelmingness could be addressed if the company provides information to consumers about the medical professionals they could contact. In addition, there is no guarantee that these individuals will follow through with the personalized plans, so these messages are crucial. The company must make sure their consumers are health literate enough to obtain this information and to act upon it on their own.
Inherent Health explains their methods around research and practice in detail. However, there is limited information on the additional services they provide. For example, they mention opportunities for consumers to contact a “board-certified genetic professional.” However, they make no mention of what the scope of that professional’s practice is; there is no guarantee that that person would be qualified to help consumers “beyond the science” of their test results.
More information can be both beneficial and harmful; it depends on the circumstances. If the consumers are proactive, then that information will help them make choices that are beneficial to their health. For consumers who are more passive and/or emotional, that information could cause anxiety that could lead to harmful choices. There are two ends of the spectrum, so companies should be mindful and should deter from generalizations. Companies like Inherent Health should be held accountable to some degree to protect consumers.
Targeted services can compound the problem if a physician or other health care professional is not involved in conversation. Inherent health uses very vague language and I don’t believe they adequately describe their methods. Most of what they say is centered on making themselves look legitimate. More information may not be the best approach for reporting genetic information. What might be the most beneficial is discouraging people from trying to interpret their results on their own or explaining the implications that come with getting tested, which is something that is usually lost in DTC methods.
ReplyDeleteTargeted services compound the problem, especially since not very many Americans have fairly low genomic literacy. Without the ability to interpret the gravity of their testing result, any targeted services they may pursue could potentially worsen the problem. More information provided on the DTC tests would only help the problem if the additional information was provided by a trained genetic counselor.
ReplyDeleteVanessa Merta
ReplyDeleteInherent Health is a business, which is something that needs to be taken into account when looking into genetic testing. Their first priority is to make money, not to necessarily help people. Dieting is also something that is very important to our society, and many people would do almost anything to stay thin, so this is a tactic that is easy to capitalize on. Once the customer receives their genetic information, they more than likely do not understand it, as genetic testing is not common knowledge. From the website, it looks like Inherent Health has good credentials, but they may not have the genetic councilor to explain the results to the customer. Having this information may cause unnecessary emotional distress to the customer when there may be nothing to actually worry about. When genetic tests are unwarranted by a doctor or genetic councilor, more than likely more problems arise than are solved.
Targeted direct-to-consumer services compound the problem of those not fluent in genomics or medicine making decisions based on information about genetic risks and predispositions. Many people will likely take their test results at face value and not research deeper into the issue. They likely are not fully literate with genomics and will not know how to interpret their results correctly. Inherent Health seems to explain their methods fairly adequately, yet I still have a difficult time trusting their motives. The description of the process of DNA testing on the website made me feel uneasy and skeptical. The website does not say what the scientists do with your genetic information after they finish testing it for disease risks. I think testing for a wide range disease is fairly unnecessary and may cause more harm than good. Knowing intricate levels of information about your genetics can be great in acting as a cue to action for changing health behaviors in a positive way, but knowing too much information has the potential to be psychologically harmful to a patient.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Inherent Health offers customers the opportunity to discuss their results with genetics professional, the testing could be very misleading. For one we do not know how credible those genetic professionals are because customers do not have the opportunity to meet them in person. Furthermore the information they may provide is unnecessary and causes a problem not a solution and that may misinform people.More information on the tests would be very beneficial for the customers because they can understand what type of tests they are taking and make an informed decision. This way people can get an exercise plan that works for them.
ReplyDeleteI think more education is a definite benefit for consumers. With more knowledge comes more power. Inherent Health's targeted approach is very beneficial. It helps target the problems that genetic tests could indicate, such as risk for diabetes or coronary heart disease. However, what Inherent Health fails to offer is proper education on what genetic testing could mean. If a non-educated person were to take the genetic test, they should know the difference between at risk, and 100% positive that a disease will show up in the future. For those that are well versed in the genetics language, I believe direct-to-consumer testing does not compound on the problem However this could easily prove to be the reverse with lack of proper education.
ReplyDeleteServices such as those provided by Inherent Health could be highly beneficial to consumers. This information could be very valuable in creating specific plans for individuals that could optimize their health. This service in particular seems reputable at first glance but if one were to utilize their services I would look more in depth at the information provided on their website. The information provided by these direct to consumer services can be helpful as long as they are interpreted correctly.
ReplyDeleteI believe that companies like this are out to make money. Some may now work with clinicians (I believe either to assure customers that it's "the real deal" or because legislation in certain states has been passed requiring it. I think that doing such a test could give people something to blame for example why they gain weight or are generally unhealthy. A genetic test isn'´t needed to hep people do some more walking and eat less fast food. Unless hospitals conducted these studies and had reason to, I don't believe that such companies are helping anyone really.
ReplyDeleteI would only support companies like Inherent Health if there was evidence that it helps people change their lifestyles. If that one days ends up being the only thing that gets people to exercise and be healthy than maybe future legislation can help make these companies work better and to the benefit of communities.