GRF Projects

Objectives:

To build a database of genetic counselling consultations in Hong Kong across genetic conditions and diverse client and professional populations for the purposes of research, professional training and education.
To use an innovative research design to examine risk communication and its impact on the outcomes of genetic counselling in Hong Kong.
To examine risk communication vis-à-vis family, in particular, family kinship and dynamics when a genetic condition has to be managed within the existing family structures.
To examine how risk communication is contingent upon the sociocultural context in which the genetic counselling is situated.
To contribute to professional training, education, and policy-making by identifying and disseminating effective practices of genetic counselling for SADS and other genetic conditions.
To raise public awareness about genetic conditions through developing Hong Kong-specific client information resources (on-line and written).

Objectives

Using established discourse analytic methodologies to examine telegenetic counseling in a designated context of Hong Kong.
To identify and explore the analytic themes of telegenetic counseling.
To explore the complexities and challenges of telegenetic counseling and how they are mediated by participants.
To identify discourse strategies used in telecounseling to enhance communication and to achieve the objectives of these encounters.
To summarize the results of the study in a workshop for a professional community in Hong Kong.
To maintain a database of telegenetic counseling for the purposes of research and training of genetic professionals.