Intersectionality of Race and Socioeconomic Status in Genetic Counseling: A Focus on Patient Perspectives

Authors

Badi Quinteros, Virginia Commonwealth University

Original Publication Date

2025

Document Type

Presentation

Comments

Third place winner of the 11th Annual VCU 3MT® Competition, held on October 3, 2025.

Abstract

Badi Quinteros investigates how the intersection of race and socioeconomic status influences trust in genetic counselors—an essential factor linked to health outcomes and treatment adherence. Black patients are less likely to be referred to or have access to genetic counseling, a vital service that helps individuals understand and manage cancer risks. Analyzing data from 255 patients, including demographic and socioeconomic information as well as video and audio recordings of counseling sessions, Quinteros found that Black patients with public insurance reported lower levels of trust in their counselors. This research aims to uncover the factors driving these disparities and develop guidelines to help clinicians provide more equitable, culturally responsive, and effective genetic counseling for all patients.

Transcription

Next, we have Badi Quinteros, Intersectionality of Race and Socioeconomic Status in Genetic Counseling: A focus on patient perspectives. They're in the School of Medicine, and their advisor is Dr. John Quillin. By the end of my talk, 10 people will be diagnosed with cancer, and two of them will identify as black. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. This has been researched by many to look for cures or preventative care. Cancer genetics has played a massive role in this area to try to look for genes that are related to a higher risk of developing certain cancers, and they have been able to find some of them. But knowing this information and what tests to do is not enough. We need to take this information, the tools and the testing, to the patient, and this is when genetic counselors come into place. They provide the bridge that connect patients to this medication or this testing. However, research has shown that patients who identify as black are less likely to be referred to genetic counseling, and also they have less access to genetic counseling appointments, giving them a less likely to receive the help and care that they need to help them with their cancer needs. My research was looking into focusing in the intersection between race and socioeconomic status to identify who are the patients that are more vulnerable. With this, we looked specifically as an outcome to trust in genetic counselors. why trust is being linked primarily to health outcome higher trust better health outcome as well as following recommendations for providers which is key for their recovery we collected data from around 255 patients that were coming to genetic counseling appointments they answered questions about the demographic and socioeconomic status such as income and insurance and we also recorded their appointments using video and audio to understand what's going on in those sessions When we look at the outcome, we found that patients who identify as black and have public insurance, they're less likely to have higher trust levels to their genetic counselors, affecting their health outcomes. We want to provide equitable care to all. And part of our research, we're now analyzing the appointments that we have with these patients to better understand what is happening in those appointments, how are patients being treated, what type of wording is being used, looking primarily into these populations that vulnerable we want to affect patient care and clinical care drastically we want to provide everybody with the skills that they need that when they know that a patient is coming into session they know what to say how to treat them based on the population they come with we all have biases we all have our own personal background but we can identify these biases and have the skills to navigate better and give the tools and the and the needs that all these patients need. Identifying equitable health care is the goal of my research. With this, we plan to give specific guidelines to clinicians throughout different clinics around the United States to be able to follow this and help improve the patient care. Black patients have lower survival rates than any other race minorities. They also have a two-fold increase of dying from cancer compared to white counterparts. This is happening right now. Ten new people have been diagnosed with cancer and two of them identify as black. Thank you.