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Examining applications of the socioecological model to support evolving roles in genetic counseling advocacy and the ethical, legal, and social implications of genetic medicine Shana L Merrill
- Format:
- Book
- Thesis/Dissertation
- Author/Creator:
- Merrill, Shana L., author.
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Genetics.
- Medical ethics.
- Health sciences.
- Public health.
- 0369.
- 0497.
- 0566.
- 0573.
- Local Subjects:
- Genetics.
- Medical ethics.
- Health sciences.
- Public health.
- 0369.
- 0497.
- 0566.
- 0573.
- Genre:
- Academic theses
- Physical Description:
- 1 online resource (85 pages)
- Contained In:
- Dissertations Abstracts International 87-12B
- Place of Publication:
- Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 2026
- Language Note:
- English
- Summary:
- The field of genetic counseling is in its fifth generation since inception, and it has experienced significant evolution over the last two decades. It is a field that arose out of social work ideals and practice, based on the need to address the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of genetic medicine in a post-eugenics society. As the field of genetic counseling reaches professional maturity, it is critical to evaluate how genetic counselors understand advocacy in relationship to their professional identity, as well as creating frameworks via which to approach the ELSI of modern genetics. Paper 1 of this three-paper dissertation explores ways in which the socio-ecological model can be applied to conceptualizations of clinical genetics patient care, genetic counseling research, and genetic counseling training. Paper 1 aims to provide shared language and concepts for systematically exploring how to better support the meso- and macro-level job roles that genetic counselors increasingly fill. Papers 2 and 3 report the findings of qualitative studies that employed focus groups and interviews with key informants in the field of genetic counseling regarding current views on advocacy and pressing ELSI of modern genetics as they relate to evolving genetic counseling practice, training, and professional identity. While genetic counselors (N = 27) described nuanced understandings of personal versus professional, job role-specific, geography-specific, and micro versus macro differences in how they defined advocacy-related identities and prioritized specific ELSI issues, they reported no previous exposure to the socio-ecological model and found it helpful for considering how to discuss and organize topics relevant to these issues. Results from these qualitative studies are contextualized with reference to genetic counselors' practice-based competencies and certification standards, desired educational resources, and the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) Code of Ethics. Findings indicate that the application of a socio-ecological model within the profession of genetic counseling may assist with future revisions to NSGC's Code of Ethics, practice-based standards, graduate-level training curriculum, and continuing education interventions as the field evolves
- Notes:
- Source: Dissertations Abstracts International, Volume: 87-12, Section: B.
- Advisors: Cadet, Tamara Committee members: Mueller, Rebecca; Musunuru, Kiran
- Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 2026
- Vendor supplied data
- Local Notes:
- School code: 0175
- ISBN:
- 9798247973874
- Access Restriction:
- Restricted for use by site license
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