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Working with the Hmong Population in a Genetics Setting: Genetic Counselor Perspectives

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Journal of Genetic Counseling

Abstract

The Hmong language lacks words for many familiar Western medical genetic concepts which may impact genetic counseling sessions with individuals of Hmong ancestry who have limited English proficiency. To study this interaction, a qualitative, semi-structured interview was designed to address genetic counselors’ experiences of genetic counseling sessions working with individuals with Hmong ancestry. Genetic counselors in the three states with the largest population of Hmong individuals (California, Minnesota and Wisconsin) were invited via email to participate in a telephone interview. Eleven counselors’ interviews were transcribed and analyzed for emergent themes. Each of the counselors had served Hmong patients in a variety of clinics and possessed counseling experience ranging from approximately one to greater than 20 years. Interviews highlighted strengths and challenges in genetic counseling sessions with Hmong patients with limited English proficiency in each of five categories: 1) relevant training during graduate school, 2) session preparation, 3) content of the counseling session, 4) perception of Hmong culture, and 5) reflections on working with Hmong interpreters. Cultural awareness and education in training programs were highlighted by all genetic counselors as valued components to patient care. All interviewees had worked with professional Hmong medical interpreters, but had different expectations for the interpreter with whom they worked. To help improve genetic services for Hmong individuals in the United States, we offer suggestions to improve some of the challenges mentioned, and recommend further studies to investigate the genetic counselor and interpreter relationship.

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Acknowledgements

Thank you to valued input from Maichou Lor, RN, MS, and Donny Xiong, MPH, in the development of questions for the genetic counselors. I would also like to thank my readers: Meghan Krieger and Donny Xiong. This work was conducted to fulfill a degree requirement for the Genetic Counselor Training Program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medstar Heart and Vascular Institute, Medstar Washington Hospital Center, 110 Irving St NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA

    Aime Agather

  2. University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA

    Jennifer Rietzler

  3. University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA

    Catherine A. Reiser & Elizabeth M. Petty

Authors
  1. Aime Agather
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  2. Jennifer Rietzler
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  3. Catherine A. Reiser
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  4. Elizabeth M. Petty
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Correspondence to Aime Agather.

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Conflict of Interest

Aime Agather, Jennifer Rietzler, Catherine A. Reiser and Elizabeth M. Petty declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human Studies and Informed Consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000 (5). Informed consent was obtained from all subjects for being included in the study (Project number: 2013–1065.

Animal Studies

This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors.

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Agather, A., Rietzler, J., Reiser, C.A. et al. Working with the Hmong Population in a Genetics Setting: Genetic Counselor Perspectives. J Genet Counsel 26, 1388–1400 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-017-0117-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-017-0117-4

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