TY - JOUR
T1 - OB/GYN residents’ training, attitudes, and comfort level regarding genetics
AU - Kathrens-Gallardo, Anastasia
AU - Propst, Lauren
AU - Linn, Edward
AU - Pothast, Rachel
AU - Wicklund, Catherine
AU - Arjunan, Aishwarya
N1 - Funding Information:
The research was conducted as part of a Master’s thesis project for the Northwestern University Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling. Funding for the study was provided by Northwestern University.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
PY - 2021/11
Y1 - 2021/11
N2 - Purpose: While the availability, utility, and complexity of genetic testing expands, limited information exists regarding obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) residents’ knowledge of genetics and confidence in providing genetic services. This study examined OB/GYN residents’ educational and clinical experiences with genetics during residency, personal attitudes regarding the value of genetics and its role in their practice, level of comfort with genetic counseling, and potential motivators for learning about genetics. Methods: Eligible participants included residents currently enrolled in a CREOG-associated OB/GYN training program in the USA or Canada. A link to an anonymous 49-question RedCap survey was emailed to program coordinators in October 2017 to be forwarded to all OB/GYN residents. Results: Eighty-two OB/GYN residents representing all postgraduate years of training completed the survey. Residents indicated learning about genetics through discussions with attending physicians, lectures/courses, and publications. While residents felt their attendings valued (81%) and were knowledgeable about (85%) genetics, 28% felt their attendings did not reinforce concepts that were learned in coursework. Residents valued staying informed about the field of genetics and felt providing genetic services was within their scope of practice; however, there were deficiencies in self-reported comfort level, particularly regarding hereditary cancer counseling. Residents cited accessibility of information as a top motivator to stay informed. Conclusions: Clinically relevant, accessible didactic information about genetics reinforced in the clinical setting may increase residents’ level of comfort with providing genetic services.
AB - Purpose: While the availability, utility, and complexity of genetic testing expands, limited information exists regarding obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) residents’ knowledge of genetics and confidence in providing genetic services. This study examined OB/GYN residents’ educational and clinical experiences with genetics during residency, personal attitudes regarding the value of genetics and its role in their practice, level of comfort with genetic counseling, and potential motivators for learning about genetics. Methods: Eligible participants included residents currently enrolled in a CREOG-associated OB/GYN training program in the USA or Canada. A link to an anonymous 49-question RedCap survey was emailed to program coordinators in October 2017 to be forwarded to all OB/GYN residents. Results: Eighty-two OB/GYN residents representing all postgraduate years of training completed the survey. Residents indicated learning about genetics through discussions with attending physicians, lectures/courses, and publications. While residents felt their attendings valued (81%) and were knowledgeable about (85%) genetics, 28% felt their attendings did not reinforce concepts that were learned in coursework. Residents valued staying informed about the field of genetics and felt providing genetic services was within their scope of practice; however, there were deficiencies in self-reported comfort level, particularly regarding hereditary cancer counseling. Residents cited accessibility of information as a top motivator to stay informed. Conclusions: Clinically relevant, accessible didactic information about genetics reinforced in the clinical setting may increase residents’ level of comfort with providing genetic services.
KW - Education
KW - Genetics
KW - Residents
KW - Training
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U2 - 10.1007/s10815-021-02310-1
DO - 10.1007/s10815-021-02310-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 34515898
AN - SCOPUS:85114762274
SN - 1058-0468
VL - 38
SP - 2871
EP - 2880
JO - Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
JF - Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
IS - 11
ER -
