McCauley Michael P, Marcus Rebecca K, Strong Kimberly A, Visotcky Alexis M, Shimoyama Mary E, Derse Arthur R
Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
WMJ. 2017 Jun;116(2):69-74.
Decreasing costs and increased availability of genetic testing and genome sequencing mean many physicians will consider using these services over the next few years. Despite this promising future, some argue the present roadmap for translating genetics and genomics into routine clinical practice is unclear.
We conducted a pilot study to explore Wisconsin physicians' views, practices and educational desires regarding genetic and genomic testing.
Our study consists of an Internet survey (n=155) conducted in August and September 2015 and follow-up phone interviews with a portion of survey participants. Physicians of all specialties were invited to participate. Variables measured include physicians' general knowledge and experience regarding genetic and genomic testing, attitudes and perceptions toward these tests, testing intentions, and educational desires. Sociodemographic variables included gender, age, and medical specialty.
In our exploratory survey of Wisconsin physicians, adult primary care providers (PCPs) lagged behind other providers in terms of familiarity and experience with genetic and genomic testing. PCPs in our sample were less likely than other physicians to feel their training in genetics and genomics is adequate. Physicians younger than 50 were more likely than older colleagues to feel their training is adequate.
Our exploratory study suggests a gap in physician education and understanding regarding genomic testing, which is fast becoming part of personalized medical care. Future studies with larger samples should examine ways for physicians to close this gap, with special focus on the needs of PCPs.
基因检测和基因组测序成本的降低以及可及性的提高意味着在未来几年许多医生会考虑使用这些服务。尽管前景光明，但一些人认为目前将遗传学和基因组学转化为常规临床实践的路线尚不明确。
我们开展了一项试点研究，以探究威斯康星州医生对基因和基因组检测的看法、实践及教育需求。
我们的研究包括2015年8月和9月进行的一项网络调查（n = 155）以及对部分调查参与者的后续电话访谈。邀请了所有专科的医生参与。测量的变量包括医生对基因和基因组检测的一般知识和经验、对这些检测的态度和看法、检测意图以及教育需求。社会人口统计学变量包括性别、年龄和医学专科。
在我们对威斯康星州医生的探索性调查中，成人初级保健提供者（PCP）在基因和基因组检测的熟悉程度和经验方面落后于其他提供者。我们样本中的初级保健提供者比其他医生更不可能觉得他们在遗传学和基因组学方面的培训是足够的。50岁以下的医生比年长的同事更有可能觉得他们的培训是足够的。
我们的探索性研究表明医生在基因组检测的教育和理解方面存在差距，而基因组检测正迅速成为个性化医疗的一部分。未来更大样本的研究应探讨医生缩小这一差距的方法，特别关注初级保健提供者的需求。
