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Susan J. Persky, Ph.D. Associate Investigator Social and Behavioral Research Branch Public Health Genomics Section B.A. Northwestern University, 2000 M.A. University of California, Santa Barbara, 2002 Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara, 2004 (301) 443-0098 (301) 480-3108 perskys@mail.nih.gov Building 31, Room B1B54D 31 Center Dr, MSC 2073 Bethesda, MD 20892-2073 Selected Publications

Dr. Persky is a social psychologist whose work examines the use of new genomic knowledge in interactions between health care providers and patients, as well as in the discourse that occurs in other social contexts. Dr. Persky is particularly interested in how new genomic information might influence social stigma, health disparities, and other forms of unequal treatment. She uses a number of novel research methods including immersive virtual environment technology and quantitative content analysis of online media sources (e.g., online forums and blogs), with the aim of increasing the applicability of her research findings to real-world processes and behavior. Dr. Persky also leads the Immersive Virtual Environment Testing Area facility at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center.

One of the major themes of Dr. Persky's work is the exploration of how general (non-personalized) information about genetic predisposition for body weight and obesity influences attitudes and behavior amongst both health care providers and members of the public. Information about gene discovery related to weight and obesity receives a good deal of attention from the media and in scientific publications; however, little is known about how this information affects those who are exposed to it. In one study, Dr. Persky and colleagues are exploring how health care providers' attitudes towards overweight patients and any subsequent treatment recommendations for these patients are affected by this knowledge. In this study, she "immerses" medical students in a virtual clinical scenario where they interact with a virtual patient; they then make recommendations for the virtual patient's treatment.

In another study, Dr. Persky is exploring the public impact of genetic information related to the causes of obesity as it circulates in online communities (i.e., discussion forums). This work focuses on using quantitative content analysis techniques to observe and categorize natural, real-world discussions about weight, weight management, and health behavior that occur in these forums. Both of these projects aim to draw a clearer picture of how dissemination of information about future discoveries related to genetic predisposition for overweight and obesity will impact the beliefs and health behavior of individuals, as well as the quality of the healthcare they receive.

Dr. Persky collaborates on several other research projects outside the context of body weight and obesity. One immersive virtual environment-based project explores how social characteristics of health care providers can influence patients' responses to disease risk information presented during a clinical visit. In addition, she is currently conducting a quantitative content analysis-based project that examines the universe of genetics blogs as online sources of information for the public about genetic susceptibility tests that are marketed directly to consumers. In this project, Dr. Persky is analyzing the sources of information available to consumers as they make decisions about whether to order these tests.

In her role as leader of the Immersive Virtual Environment Testing Area, Dr. Persky provides scientific oversight for all projects conducted within the facility. She serves as a technical expert and liaison, and also as a social psychology-based content expert and collaborator.

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Posted: September 24, 2009