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- Gustafsson Stolt, Ulrica, 1965-
(författare)
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Aspects in bioethics : Theory and practice in a preventive screening for type 1 diabetes
- 2003
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- From a clinical perspective, as well as societal and global, the present rapid increase in the number of people diagnosed with diabetes is a cause of great concern. Simultaneously, our understanding of the aetiology and pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (IDDM) remain limited. As of now there are two main approaches to predict the risk of diabetes development: either before by assessing the genetic factors presumably involved, or after by a combination of immunological (IAA, la-2, GAD) and genetic typing. The problems are for example that only 10% of those that develop diabetes have a first-degree relative, and that only a proportion of those with a genetic susceptibility will eventually develop type 1 diabetes Theoretically, prevention of type 1 diabetes can be done at three different levels: primary, secondary and tertiary intervention. However, it is argued that more basic research is needed before effective and safe prevention of type 1 can be introduced. More effort is also needed to identify the environmental factors and potential triggers.Screening for pre-diabetes belong to one of the two type of genetic testing and screening who are generally considered being ethically controversial: predictive, pre-symptomatic testing of children for disorders that do not usually (or where there are uncertainty in progression rate) manifest until adult life, and for which an effective intervention measure is not available. There are risks for creation of distress and anxiety, risks for false-positive results, risks of bypassing informed consent and stigmatisation in case of potential positive results. Discussed are also issues concerning the upholding of individual autonomy, confidentiality and integrity. Simultaneously, it has been argued that the ethical discussion is based on empirical premises that are not sufficiently studied, and that we furthermore lack empirical data.Thematically this thesis belongs to the discipline of descriptive ethics. Our aim was to empirically explore and describe the attitudes and opinions of to, on the basis of the empirical results, point at and discuss issues of bioethical relevance. Our case was ABIS (All Babies In Southeast Sweden) an ongoing prospective longitudinal cohort study for the prediction and prevention of type 1 diabetes (n=17,005). The research design included both qualitative studies: interviews with participating and non-participating mothers, as well as health professionals involved, and a quantitative study: consisting of a designed questionnaire exploring bioethical issues.The interview data indicate a positive attitude both to the ABIS aims and methods and there were less concern over research material, screening results, prevention than often assumed. However, there were concern expressed of issues concerning confidentiality, integrity and restrictions. The reasons for declining participation varied: not wanting their child put through frequent blood testing, fear of "experimentation". The interviews with the staff involved gave important data regarding information procedures and research design, for example the importance of identifying and informing all actors in research involving humans. The questionnaire data support at large earlier empirical findings: a benevolent attitude, less concern over biological samples and written material. Similar concerns were raised of confidentiality and integrity: material used to initial purposes, protection of identity, renewed consent. The majority wanted to know about high-risk status, even though no available intervention. Our interest in information and informed consent was renewed since participants showed a lack of knowledge/understanding regarding basic aims and methods. The problem of informed consent was discussed in the last two papers: the first focusing on the problem of obtaining informed consent, while the second explored potential alternatives of action if we have reason to believe the participants lack a sufficient understanding.
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| 2. |
- Gustafsson Stolt, Ulrica, 1965-, et al.
(författare)
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Attitudes to bioethical issues : a case study of a screening project
- 2002
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Ingår i: Social Science and Medicine. - 0277-9536 .- 1873-5347. ; 54:9, s. 1333-1344
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Commonly expressed in theoretical discussions about ethical problems in the context of epidemiology and screening is the need for more data. A study was carried out involving 21 explorative interviews with participant and nonparticipant mothers in a neonatal research screening project in progress in Sweden, ABIS (All Babies in Southeast Sweden). The respondents were asked, by way of open-ended questions, to give their opinions about certain ethical issues: informed consent; reasons for joining/declining; surrogate decision; the collection, analysis and storage of written and “live” material (biobanks); intervention etc.The ethical implications mentioned in the literature mostly concern the risk of creating distress and anxiety (anxiety and possible stigmatisation in respect of positive or false-positive results, worry about material collected and stored, distress caused by blood sampling procedures, etc.). Our results do not support the idea that the risks are substantial. The respondents rather indicate an attitude of benevolence—they are positive both to the current research on children, to the material they contribute (both written material and “biomaterial”), to possible results and intervention plans. On the other hand the participants expressed concern about the storage of material and the right to be informed of any screening/project results. Further studies in this field are needed and would be of help in theoretical discussion, the work of ethical committees and the designing of, for example, screening and research projects.
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| 3. |
- Gustafsson Stolt, Ulrica, 1965-, et al.
(författare)
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Bioethical theory and practice in genetic screening for type 1 diabetes
- 2003
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Ingår i: Medicine, Health care and Philosophy. - 1386-7423 .- 1572-8633. ; 6:1, s. 45-50
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Due to the potential ethical and psychological implications of screening, and especially inregard of screening on children without available and acceptable therapeutic measures, there is a common view that such procedures are not advisable. As part of an independent research- and bioethical case study, our aim was therefore to explore and describe bioethical issues among a representative sample of participant families (n = 17,055 children) in the ABIS (All Babies In South-east Sweden) research screening for Type 1 diabetes (IDDM).The primary aim is the identification of risk factors important for the development of diabetes and other multifactorial immune-mediated diseases. Four hundred, randomly chosen, participant mothers were asked to complete a questionnaire exploring issues of information, informed consent, bio-material, confidentiality and autonomy, and of prevention/intervention. 293 completed the questionnaire, resulting in a response rate of 73.3%. The majority of questions had the form of 6-point Likert-type response scales (1–6).We found that the majority of respondents felt calm in regard of samples and written material, and also concerning the possibility of their child in the future being identified as having high risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. An important finding concerning access and control of mainly biological data was indicated, with the respondents expressing concern for potential future use. We believe our findings indicate that this kind of empirical studies can substantially contribute to our understanding of bioethical issues of medical research involving genetics. Issues, such as safeguards ensuring theethical criteria of autonomy and respect, were emphasised by our respondents. We believe theissues brought up may promote further discussion, and do suggest issues for consideration by, among others, researchers, bioethicists and Institutional Review Boards.
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| 4. |
- Gustafsson Stolt, Ulrica, 1965-, et al.
(författare)
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Information and informed consent in a longitudinal screening involving children : a questionnaire survey
- 2005
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Ingår i: European Journal of Human Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1018-4813 .- 1476-5438. ; 13, s. 376-383
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This empirical study explores participants' perceptions of information and understanding of their children's and their own involvement in a longitudinal screening, the ABIS Study. ABIS (All Babies In Southeast Sweden) is a multicentre, longitudinal research screening for Type 1 diabetes and multifactorial diseases involving 17 005 children and their families. For this study, a random selection of mothers was made, using perinatal questionnaire serial numbers from the ABIS study. In total, 293 of these mothers completed an anonymous questionnaire (response rate 73.3%). Our findings from the questionnaire indicate a marked difference between the reported satisfaction with and understanding of the information provided on the one hand and the significant lack of knowledge of some of the aims and methods of the ABIS screening on the other, namely concerning high-risk identification of involved children, potential prevention and future questionnaires. Two questions evoked by our results are: (1) what information is required for participants in longitudinal studies involving children? and (2) how do we ensure and sustain understanding, and thus in a prolonging, informed consent in these studies? This study underlines the importance of an increased understanding of the ethical issues that longitudinal research on children raise and the need to discuss how information and informed consent strategies should be analysed and designed in longitudinal studies.
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| 5. |
- Gustafsson Stolt, Ulrica, 1965-, et al.
(författare)
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Nurses’ views of longitudinal genetic screening of and research on children
- 2005
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Ingår i: British Journal of Nursing. - 0966-0461 .- 2052-2819. ; 14:2, s. 71-77
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is a lack of empirical data exploring ethical issues of genetic screening and longitudinal research involving children. Therefore, this pilot interview study explored the perceptions of nurses and midwives in relation to their involvement in an ongoing genetic preventive screening process involving children - the All Babies in South-east Sweden (ABIS) study (n=17,005). Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 nurses involved in all information and sampling procedures. While providing the preliminary nature of this study, it supports the idea of the importance of further research, both from a nursing professional perspective and from other parties involved in clinical research. The findings made in this study suggest that for such studies it is vital that nurses and midwives are fully informed about aims, methods, and potential intervention/prevention since in many cases they have a central role in several areas of screening and clinical longitudinal research involving children, e.g. information to potential research participants, obtaining informed consent, and data collection. With a thorough understanding of the research, including both basic aims and methods as well as potential future prevention aims, the nursing staff involved will be better placed to help participants make an informed choice and to provide additional information to the participants. Further research may be needed that aims to develop effective methods in preparing data collectors. It is also suggested that the design of the information process, and especially in longitudinal research involving young children, is of utmost importance before such studies are commenced.
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| 6. |
- Gustafsson Stolt, Ulrica, 1965-, et al.
(författare)
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Parents want to know if their child is at high risk of getting diabetes
- 2003
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Ingår i: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. - : Wiley. - 0077-8923 .- 1749-6632. ; 1005, s. 395-399
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Not least among professionals, voices have been raised against screening research projects, which have been regarded as involving a risk of being unethical as they may disturb, scare, or even harm the included people without giving enough benefit. This problem with large-scale screening should be especially pronounced if increased risk of a serious disease like type 1 diabetes is identified when no effective prevention is available, and even more problematic if children were involved. ABIS (All Babies in Southeast Sweden) is a screening project including 17,000 newborn babies in the general population, followed prospectively to identify children at risk to get diabetes, and to study the influence of environmental factors causing the disease process. Four hundred randomly selected ABIS families received a questionnaire on attitudes and ethical questions regarding the project to be answered anonymously: 293/400 (73.3%) answered; 279/293 (95.3%) stated that they regarded it their right to be informed of results in the study and 278/293 (94.9%) said they really want to know. In fact, 254/293 (86.7%) report wanting to know if their child has increased risk of getting diabetes even if there is no preventive measure available. This clear result supports the view that this type of study may well be ethically justified as long as informed consent can be given based on adequate understanding and voluntariness. The results may have implications for the design of future screening studies.
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| 8. |
- Ludvigsson, Johnny, 1943-, et al.
(författare)
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Mothers of children in ABIS, a population-based screening for prediabetes, experience few ethical conflicts and have a positive attitude
- 2002
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Ingår i: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. - : Wiley. - 0077-8923 .- 1749-6632. ; 958, s. 376-381
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Screening is supposed to create less anxiety among first-degree relatives of diabetic patients where the risk of developing diabetes already is well known. It has also been argued that screening of a general child population should never be performed unless identified high-risk individuals can be offered intervention to prevent diabetes. However, the empirical data are scarce, especially regarding what opinions patients or their parents have of these matters/issues themselves. We have therefore tried to evaluate mothers' attitudes to and ethical views on participation in a research screening for prediabetes in an unselected birth cohort. All 21,700 mothers of children in southeast Sweden born between 1 October 1997 and 1 October 1999 were asked to participate in ABIS (All Babies in Southeast Sweden). They were given information about the design of the study and that HLA types and autoantibodies will be determined in order to predict diabetes, but that no prevention of diabetes will be offered unless future studies show effective methods. After informed consent, 78.6% of mothers let their babies participate (17,055 children) despite a quite laborious study protocol. Explorative in-depth semistructured interviews were performed in 21 mothers, of whom 15 were strategically selected to get as many various attitudes as possible and of whom 6 chose not to participate in ABIS. All interviewed mothers were positive to the ABIS project. We conclude that a well-designed screening program to detect individuals in the general population with high risk of developing diabetes does not evoke anxiety nor severe ethical conflicts.
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