Table 2.

Evidence-based criteria for a genomic secondary results preferences instrument

Criterion	Rationale
Preferences should be elicited through structured choices rather than open-ended questions	Patients prefer for preferences to be prospectively applied during the computer-based analysis of genomic raw data. They do not want providers to receive results that will not be reported to the patient.
Preference items should be organized around specific diseases or disease categories	Patient preferences often seem to be driven by personal experience with a disease in a family member or other loved one.
Preference items should be immediately understandable by most patients	Genomic testing will increasingly be delivered without the benefit of genetic counseling, including in the PREDICT program at Vanderbilt University.
Preferences items should be limited in number	In many clinical and research settings, including the projects described here, a brief instrument is desirable to minimize respondent burden and support efficient clinical flow.
Preference items should be carefully selected to support inference about patients’ other preferences	Genomic sequencing creates the potential to generate a wide range of secondary results.