Genetics in obstetricians' offices: a survey study.

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Medical Genetics
• Genetic Counseling

Background:

• Genetic screening and counseling are integral to modern prenatal care.
• Advances in genetic testing necessitate continuous education for healthcare providers.
• Obstetricians play a key role in assessing genetic risks and guiding patient decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the genetic knowledge and practice patterns of obstetricians.
• To identify areas of strength and weakness in obstetricians' genetic expertise.
• To understand challenges faced by obstetricians in providing genetic information to patients.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire survey was distributed to 1003 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Fellows.
• Data were collected from 554 respondents (55% response rate).
• Analysis focused on 446 respondents actively practicing obstetrics.

Main Results:

• Most obstetricians (85.6%) used genetic-history forms and had access to genetic counselors (87%).
• While knowledgeable about aneuploidy and neural tube defects, many struggled with single-gene disorder risk assessment (e.g., cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease).
• Rapidly evolving genetic testing technology was identified as a major barrier to patient education.

Conclusions:

• Obstetricians' understanding of single-gene disorders and related genetic testing is less robust than for chromosomal abnormalities.
• Deficits in knowledge and patient education efforts were observed for single-gene disorders.
• Ongoing professional development is crucial to keep pace with advancements in genetic diagnostics.