Dataset Information

Consumer use and response to online third-party raw DNA interpretation services.

ABSTRACT:

Background

With the availability of raw DNA generated from direct-to-consumer (DTC) testing companies, there has been a proliferation of third-party online services that are available to interpret the raw data for both genealogy and/or health purposes. This study examines the current landscape and downstream clinical implications of consumer use of third-party services.

Methods

Study participants were recruited online from social media platforms. A total of 321 survey respondents reported using third-party services for raw DNA interpretation.

Results

Participants were highly motivated to explore raw DNA for ancestral information (67%), individual health implications (62%), or both (40%). Participants primarily used one of seven companies to interpret raw DNA; 73% used more than one. Company choice was driven by the type of results offered (51%), price (45%), and online reviews (31%). Approximately 30% of participants shared results with a medical provider and 21% shared with more than one. Outcomes of sharing ranged from disinterest/discounting of the information to diagnosis of genetic conditions. Participants were highly satisfied with their decision to analyze raw DNA (M = 4.54/5), yet challenges in understanding interpretation results were reported irrespective of satisfaction ratings.

Conclusion

Consumers face challenges in understanding the results and may seek out clinical assistance in interpreting their raw DNA results.

SUBMITTER: Wang C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5823680 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Consumer use and response to online third-party raw DNA interpretation services.

Wang Catharine C Cahill Tiernan J TJ Parlato Andrew A Wertz Blake B Zhong Qiankun Q Cunningham Tricia Norkunas TN Cummings James J JJ

Molecular genetics & genomic medicine 20171102 1

<h4>Background</h4>With the availability of raw DNA generated from direct-to-consumer (DTC) testing companies, there has been a proliferation of third-party online services that are available to interpret the raw data for both genealogy and/or health purposes. This study examines the current landscape and downstream clinical implications of consumer use of third-party services.<h4>Methods</h4>Study participants were recruited online from social media platforms. A total of 321 survey respondents ...[more]

PMID: 29471590

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Project description:BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has contributed to growing demand for mental health services, but patients face significant barriers to accessing care. Direct-to-consumer(DTC) telemedicine has been proposed as one way to increase access, yet little is known about its pre-pandemic use for mental healthcare.ObjectiveTo characterize patients, providers, and their use of a large nationwide DTC telemedicine platform for mental healthcare.DesignRetrospective cross-sectional study.SettingMental health encounters conducted on the American Well DTC telemedicine platform from 2016 to 2018.ParticipantsPatients and physicians.Main measuresPatient measures included demographics, insurance report, and number of visits. Provider characteristics included specialty, region, and number of encounters. Encounter measures included wait time, visit length and timing, out-of-pocket payment, coupon use, prescription outcome, referral receipt, where care otherwise would have been sought, and patient satisfaction. Factors associated with five-star physician ratings and prescription receipt were assessed using logistic regression.Key resultsWe analyzed 19,270 mental health encounters between 6708 patients and 1045 providers. Visits were most frequently for anxiety (39.1%) or depression (32.5%), with high satisfaction (4.9/5) across conditions. Patients had a median 2.0 visits for psychiatry (IQR 1.0-3.0) and therapy (IQR 1.0-5.0), compared to 1.0 visit (IQR 1.0-1.0) for urgent care. High satisfaction was positively correlated with prescription receipt (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.54-2.32) and after-hours timing (aOR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02-1.36). Prescription rates ranged from 79.6% for depression to 32.2% for substance use disorders. Prescription receipt was associated with increased visit frequency (aOR 1.95, 95% CI 1.57-2.42 for ≥ 3 visits).ConclusionsAs the burden of psychiatric disease grows, DTC telemedicine offers one solution for extending access to mental healthcare. While most encounters were one-off, evidence of some continuity in psychiatry and therapy visits-as well as overall high patient satisfaction-suggests potential for broader DTC telemental health use.

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Dataset Information

Consumer use and response to online third-party raw DNA interpretation services.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Consumer use and response to online third-party raw DNA interpretation services.

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