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Table 6 Physicians' views regarding the acceptability of providing different types of genetic tests outside of the traditional healthcare setting, without an established physician-patient relationship and without a face-to-face consultation.

From: Survey of European clinical geneticists on awareness, experiences and attitudes towards direct-to-consumer genetic testing

Type of genetic test

Strongly disagree

Somewhat disagree

Neither agree or disagree

Somewhat agree

Strongly agree

When preventive or therapeutic measures can be taken based on genetic test results, it is acceptable to offer a genetic test without face-to-face medical supervision

70%

(80/114)

20%

(23/114)

3%

(3/114)

6%

(7/114)

1%

(1/114)

For conditions that are neither treatable nor preventable it is acceptable to offer a genetic test without face-to-face medical supervision

94%

(106/113)

4%

(4/113)

2%

(2/113)

1%

(1/113)

0%

(0/113)

For conditions with serious health repercussions (such as neurological impairment) it is acceptable to offer a genetic test without face-to-face medical supervision

97%

(110/114)

2%

(2/114)

1%

(1/114)

1%

(1/114)

0%

(0/114)

For traits or conditions that have either no or relatively mild health repercussions (such as ear lobe shape or gluten insensitivity) it is acceptable to offer a genetic test without face-to-face medical supervision

39%

(44/114)

35%

(40/114)

10%

(11/114)

14%

(16/114)

3%

(3/114)

  1. Physicians were asked to consider 'The following statements are set in a situation outside of the traditional health care system whereby there is no established physician patient relationship. Please choose the option that best represents your agreement with each statement.'