Abstract
A supervised genetics examination was administered to 76 obstetrics and gynecology (ob/gyn) residents from 15 different institutions in the Philadelphia area. The questions were specifically designed to be applicable to obstetrical practice. Overall, the mean score was 69% (range 32%-88%). Using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney rank sum test, we found that the 25 residents from institutions with an obstetrics-gynecology-genetics (OGG) program, coordinated by an obstetrician/gynecologist board certified in clinical genetics, had statistically significant higher scores than the remaining 51 residents from institutions without an OGG program (77% vs. 65%, respectively; P < .001). This study demonstrates that knowledge of genetics among residents in ob/gyn is deficient, especially among residents at institutions without OGG programs. Special efforts should be made to provide genetics education to these individuals. We propose that more obstetricians be encouraged to pursue postgraduate training in genetics in light of the rapid development of medical genetics; its application to prenatal screening, diagnosis, and counseling; the anticipated utilization of genetics services; and the need for educational initiatives geared toward ob/gyn patients.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Firth H. V., Lindenbaum R. H. UK clinicians' knowledge of and attitudes to the prenatal diagnosis of single gene disorders. J Med Genet. 1992 Jan;29(1):20–23. doi: 10.1136/jmg.29.1.20. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Garver K. L., LeChien K. A. Looking back, looking ahead. Am J Hum Genet. 1993 Mar;52(3):635–636. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Julian C., Ayme S., Huard P., Giraud F. Diffusion du conseil génétique et du diagnostic prénatal: l'impact des connaissances des médecins. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique. 1986;34(6):365–372. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sachs B. P., Korf B. The Human Genome Project: implications for the practicing obstetrician. Obstet Gynecol. 1993 Mar;81(3):458–462. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]