ArticleJournal of genetic counseling2019
Interpretations of the Term "Actionable" when Discussing Genetic Test Results: What you Mean Is Not What I Heard.
Article in Journal of genetic counseling, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed.
- Moving from Bench to Bedside: A Social History of Actionability in Biomedicine.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2026Article
- Research opportunities in precision oncology: perspectives on biospecimen and genomic data sharing from adults with cancer in Ireland.Irish journal of medical science · 2025Article
- "Would you want to know?" Questions of utility and responsibility in Italian laypersons' preferences about genetic risk communication.Journal of community genetics · 2025Article
- Clinician Recommendation for Hereditary Genetic Testing in Participants at Increased Risk for Hereditary Cancer.Cancers · 2025Article
- Genomic Screening at a Single Health System.JAMA network open · 2025Article
- Actionability of Genetic Variants in Diabetes: Core Aspects and Applied Examples.Diabetes spectrum : a publication of the American Diabetes Association · 2025Article
- The effect of genetic education on the referral of patients to genetic evaluation: Findings from a national survey of nephrologists.Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics · 2023Article
- How Clinicians Conceptualize "Actionability" in Genomic Screening.Journal of personalized medicine · 2023Article
- Patient and Provider Perspectives on Enrollment in Precision Oncology Research: Qualitative Ethical Analysis.JMIR cancer · 2022Article
- The passivists: Managing risk through institutionalized ignorance in genomic medicine.Social science & medicine (1982) · 2022Article
- GeneLiFT: A novel test to facilitate rapid screening of genetic literacy in a diverse population undergoing genetic testing.Journal of genetic counseling · 2021Article
- Return of results in a global survey of psychiatric genetics researchers: practices, attitudes, and knowledge.Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics · 2021Article
- Impact of a 40-Gene Targeted Panel Test on Physician Decision Making for Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia.JCO precision oncology · 2021Article
- Consent and Autonomy in the Genomics Era.Current genetic medicine reports · 2019Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
In genomic medicine, the familiarity and inexactness of the term "actionable" can lead to multiple interpretations and mistaken beliefs about realistic treatment options. As part of a larger study focusing on public attitudes toward policies for the return of secondary genomic results, we looked at how members of the lay public interpret the term "medically actionable" in the context of genetic testing. We also surveyed a convenience sample of oncologists as part of a separate study and asked them to define the term "medically actionable." After being provided with a definition of the term, 21 out of 60 (35%) layperson respondents wrote an additional action not specified in the provided definition (12 mentioned "cure" and 9 mentioned environment or behavioral change) and 17 (28%) indicated "something can be done" with no action specified. In contrast, 52 surveyed oncologists did not mention environment, behavioral change, or cure. Based on our findings, we propose that rather than using the term "actionable" alone, providers should also say "what they mean" to reduce miscommunication and confusion that could negatively impact medical decision-making. Lastly, to guide clinicians during patient- provider discussion about genetic test results, we provide examples of phrasing to facilitate clearer communication and understanding of the term "actionable."
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.