Abstract
This is a report of the preliminary findings of a brief exploratory ethnographic study in a cancer diagnosis and treatment clinic. The main research purpose was to explore the meaning of cancer and cancer treatment to patients themselves and to their relatives and close friends. The methods are described in detail in a paper focusing on the experiences of being a novice ethnographer (Peters et al. (2001) J Genet Counsel 10(2):133–150.). The preliminary results of this exploratory fieldwork indicate that the experience of attending a cancer treatment clinic for evaluation and/or treatment is a complex social, emotional as well as medical process for patients and families. Themes with relevance to genetic counselors that emerged from this early observation period included ideas about causes of cancer, the complex nature of families and kinship, coping and support, use of food, and healing. These initial findings have implications for genetic counseling practice and hopefully will stimulate more qualitative social and behavioral research in cancer genetic counseling.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Ad Hoc Committee of the American Society of Human Genetics (1975) Genetic counseling definition. Am J Human Genet 27:240–242.
Baker D, Shuette J, Uhlmann W (2000) Genetic Counseling. New York, NY: Wiley Press.
Bennett RL (1999) The Practical Guide to the Genetic Family History. New York: Wiley-Liss.
Bolen JS (1996) Close to the Bone. New York: Touchstone.
Daly M, Farmer J, Harrop-Stein C, Montgomery S, Itzen M, Costalas JW, Rogatko A, Miller S, Balshem A, Gillespie D (1999) Exploring family relationships in cancer risk counseling using the genogram. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 8:393–398.
Eunpu DL (1997) Systematically-based psychotherapeutic techniques in genetic counseling. J Genet Counsel 6:1–20.
Glanz K, Lewis F, Rimer B (1997) Health Behavior and Health Education: Theory, Research and Practic. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Hahn RA (1995) Sickness and Healing: An Anthropological Perspective.
Hammersley M, Atkinson P (1995) Ethnography: Principles in practice. New York: Routledge.
Jordan J, Kaplan A, Miller JB, Stiver IP, Surrey J (1991) Women's Growth in Connection: Writings from the Stone Center. New York: Guilford.
Kayser K, Sormanti M, Strainchamps E (1999) Women coping with cancer: The influence of relationship factors in psychosocial adjustment. Psychol Women Q 23:725–739.
Kenen R (1996) The at-risk health status and technology: A diagnostic invitation and the “gift” of knowing. Soc Sci Med 42:1545–1553.
Kenen R, Peters JA (submitted) The colored, eco-genetic relationship map (CEGRM):Atool for genetic cancer risk counseling research. J Genet Counsel.
Kessler S (1990) Current psychological issues in genetic counseling. J Psychosom Obstet Gynecol 11:5–18.
Lerman C, Schwartz MD, Miller SM, et al. (1996) A randomized trial of breast cancer risk counseling: Interaction effects of counseling, educational level, and coping style. Health Psychol 15:75–83.
McAllister C (1990) Women and feasting: Ritual exchange, capitalism, and islamic revival in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Res Econ Anthropol 12:23–51.
McGoldrick M, Gerson R, Shellenberger S (1999) Genograms: Assessment and Intervention. New York: Norton.
Michie S, Marteau T (1996) Genetic counseling: Some issues of theory and practice. In: Marteau T, Richards M (eds) The Troubled Helix: Social and Psychological Implications of the New Human Genetics, Cambridge UK: Cambridge University Press, pp 104–122.
Miller JB, Stiver IP (1997) The Healing Connection. Boston MA: Beacon Press.
NSGC (1992) National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) Code of Ethics. J Genet Counsel 1:41–44.
Palmer S, Spencer J, Kushnick T, Wiley J, Bowyer S (1993) Follow-up survey of pregnancies with diagnoses of chromosomal abnormality. J Genet Counsel 2:139–152.
Peters J, McAllister C, Rubinstein W (2001) Qualitative cancer genetic counseling research, Part I: Ethnography in a cancer clinic. J Genet Counsel 10(2):151–168.
Resta R (2000) The crane's foot: The rise of the pedigree in human genetics. J Genet Counsel 2:235–260.
Rolland JS (1989) Chronic illness and the family life cycle. In: Carter B, McGoldrick M (eds) The Changing Family Life Cycle: A Framework for Family Therapy, Boston: Allyn and Bacon, pp 433–456.
Rolland JS (1994) Families, Illness, and Disability: An Integrative Treatment Model. New York: Basic Books.
Schweitzer A (1947) On the edge of the primeval forest. In: Joy C (ed) Albert Schweitzer: An Anthology Boston: Beacon Press, pp 287, 288.
Shiloh S, Saxe L (2000) Perception of risk in genetic counseling. Psychol and Health 3:45–61.
Webster (1994) Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language. New York: Grammercy Book.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Peters, J.A., McAllister, C.L. & Rubinstein, W.S. Qualitative Cancer Genetic Counseling Research, Part II: Findings from a Exploratory Ethnographic Study in a Cancer Clinic. Journal of Genetic Counseling 10, 151–168 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009443831365
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009443831365