Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Purpose
General practitioners are increasingly called upon to deliver genetic services and could play a key role in translating potentially life-saving advancements in oncogenetic technologies to patient care. If general practitioners are to make an effective contribution in this area, their genetics competencies need to be upgraded. The aim of this study was to investigate whether oncogenetics training for general practitioners improves their genetic consultation skills.Methods
In this pragmatic, blinded, randomized controlled trial, the intervention consisted of a 4-h training (December 2011 and April 2012), covering oncogenetic consultation skills (family history, familial risk assessment, and efficient referral), attitude (medical ethical issues), and clinical knowledge required in primary-care consultations. Outcomes were measured using observation checklists by unannounced standardized patients and self-reported questionnaires.Results
Of 88 randomized general practitioners who initially agreed to participate, 56 completed all measurements. Key consultation skills significantly and substantially improved; regression coefficients after intervention were equivalent to 0.34 and 0.28 at 3-month follow-up, indicating a moderate effect size. Satisfaction and perceived applicability of newly learned skills were highly scored.Conclusion
The general practitioner-specific training proved to be a feasible, satisfactory, and clinically applicable method to improve oncogenetics consultation skills and could be used as an educational framework to inform future training activities with the ultimate aim of improving medical care.
SUBMITTER: Houwink EJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3914027 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Houwink Elisa J F EJ Muijtjens Arno M M AM van Teeffelen Sarah R SR Henneman Lidewij L Rethans Jan Joost JJ van der Jagt Liesbeth E J LE van Luijk Scheltus J SJ Dinant Geert Jan GJ van der Vleuten Cees C Cornel Martina C MC
Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics 20130530 1
<h4>Purpose</h4>General practitioners are increasingly called upon to deliver genetic services and could play a key role in translating potentially life-saving advancements in oncogenetic technologies to patient care. If general practitioners are to make an effective contribution in this area, their genetics competencies need to be upgraded. The aim of this study was to investigate whether oncogenetics training for general practitioners improves their genetic consultation skills.<h4>Methods</h4> ...[more]