Readiness of Primary Healthcare Physicians for Providing Genetic Services

Background/objectives The primary healthcare system plays an important role in addressing the health needs of communities and preventing diseases. The system in Saudi Arabia is undergoing a major transformation under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, with the main aim of increasing the efficiency and accessibility of health services to all members of the community. This reform provides an opportunity to revolutionize patient care by integrating genetic services. This study assesses the readiness of primary healthcare physicians in Saudi Arabia to provide genetic services, identifies possible impacts and barriers to integrating genetic services, and examines the willingness of physicians to undergo further training if required. Method A cross-sectional study of 31 primary healthcare physicians was conducted between May 2024 and September 2024 using a self-structured questionnaire. Results Most primary healthcare physicians considered that they had insufficient formal education and limited knowledge of genetics; thus, they lacked confidence in providing genetic services to patients. They reported that several barriers to integration existed, including practitioners' level of knowledge, the time required for each patient, the rarity of cases, and limited resources. Conclusion Despite the current knowledge gap, primary healthcare physicians recognized the value of genetic services and the need to integrate them into their practice and expressed interest in expanding their knowledge.