Department of Veteran Affairs, Genomic Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
J Genet Couns. 2021 Feb;30(1):211-228. doi: 10.1002/jgc4.1312. Epub 2020 Jul 12.
Genetic counseling student characteristics may be evolving with the expansion and diversification of the genetic counseling field. We compared characteristics and previously accrued experiences of genetic counseling students enrolled in the 2018-2019 academic year with genetic counseling students surveyed by Lega et al. (Journal of Genetic Counseling, 14, 395; 2005). Four-hundred thirty students completed a survey (60% response rate) assessing demographics, select application experiences, encouragement and discouragement to apply to genetic counseling programs, and career certainty and motivations. Data analyses comprised descriptive statistics, content analysis of open-ended responses, and t tests and chi-square tests to compare responses to variables also assessed by Lega et al. Similarities between the two cohorts included most students being female, White/Caucasian, and biology majors; they reported a similar amount and type of support and discouragement; and they had strong career certainty. Salient group differences included the current cohort having a larger proportion of males (8% versus 3%; p=.007), greater percentage of parent(s) with a high socioeconomic status (SES; 31% versus 17%; p=.005), a lower first application cycle acceptance rate (71% versus 80%; p<.001), and they were more strongly influenced to pursue genetic counseling by future income (p<.001), desire to help others (p=.002), the profession's prestige (p<.001), and programs' 2-year duration (p<.001). Students applied to an average of six programs during their first application cycle and paid, on average, $1,648 for all application and interview expenses in their acceptance year. A vast majority (99%) had advocacy experiences (most commonly crisis intervention) and shadowing opportunities (94%), and 26% worked as genetic counseling assistants prior to their acceptance. Most students were interested primarily in cancer genetics at the time of survey completion. The genetic counseling field should continue efforts to improve racial and gender diversity and identify ways to increase program accessibility/affordability for individuals at all SES levels.
遗传咨询学生的特征可能随着遗传咨询领域的扩展和多样化而演变。我们比较了 2018-2019 学年入读遗传咨询课程的学生与 Lega 等人（《遗传咨询杂志》，14，395；2005 年）调查的遗传咨询学生的特征和之前积累的经验。共有 430 名学生完成了一项调查（60%的回复率），评估了人口统计学、选择申请经验、鼓励和劝阻申请遗传咨询项目，以及职业确定性和动机。数据分析包括描述性统计、对开放式回答的内容分析，以及 Lega 等人评估的变量的 t 检验和卡方检验。两个队列之间的相似之处包括大多数学生是女性、白种人/高加索人，以及生物学专业；他们报告了类似数量和类型的支持和劝阻；并且他们对职业有很强的确定性。显著的群体差异包括当前队列中男性的比例较大（8%对 3%；p=.007），父母中社会经济地位（SES）较高的比例较大（31%对 17%；p=.005），第一申请周期的录取率较低（71%对 80%；p<.001），他们受到未来收入（p<.001）、帮助他人的愿望（p=.002）、该专业的声望（p<.001）和课程 2 年时长（p<.001）的影响更大。学生在第一申请周期平均申请了六个项目，并在被录取的那一年支付了所有申请和面试费用，平均为 1648 美元。绝大多数（99%）有宣传经验（最常见的是危机干预）和影子机会（94%），26%的人在被录取前担任遗传咨询助理。大多数学生在完成调查时主要对癌症遗传学感兴趣。遗传咨询领域应继续努力提高种族和性别多样性，并确定如何提高所有社会经济地位的个人的课程可及性/可负担性。
