Perceived personal control (PPC): A new concept in measuring outcome of genetic counseling

Many researchers have tried to establish criteria for the evaluation of gen etic counseling and the assessment of its success. Most studies focused on counseling outcomes mainly educational and reproductive variables. In the p resent study we introduced the concept of "perceived personal control" (PPC ), which captures a wider and more meaningful range of effects of genetic c ounseling. It was found to be central to coping with health threats and to adapting to a broad spectrum of health problems. This study investigated 15 4 counseling cases. Counselees were requested to complete pre- and post-cou nseling questionnaires consisting of a knowledge test, measures of PPC, exp ectations/evaluations of counseling, and satisfaction with the procedure, C omparisons of mean PPC scores before and after counseling showed significan t increases. Higher post-counseling PPC was found among counselees who had been given a definite diagnosis, a specific recurrence risk, and been offer ed prenatal diagnosis. Post-counseling PPC also correlated with knowledge, satisfaction, counseling evaluations, and expectation fulfillment. The find ings suggest that PPC is a valid measure for the evaluation of genetic coun seling outcomes. The psychometrically reliable scales developed in this stu dy can become helpful tools for assessing genetic counseling both in resear ch and in clinical practice, helping the counselor evaluate the counseling session and focus on the counselees' needs. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.