Utilization of genomic services among physicians in Kenya

With the advancement of technology in genomics and mainstreaming of genomics across all specialties of medicine, physicians will be required to play a pivotal role in coordinating and providing primary genetic services.

To describe the delivery of basic genetic services among physicians in Kenya and factors affecting the integration of genomic medicine into their practice.

This was an online, descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted among registered physicians practicing in Kenya and physicians-in-training (registrars) at the University of Nairobi, using an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. The following domains were assessed: delivery of genetic services, attitudes and perceptions towards genetics, barriers to the delivery of genomic services, knowledge of genetics and physicians' demographics. Simple random sampling method was used to recruit participants for the study. Descriptive analysis methods were used for data analysis. The data was summarized using frequencies and proportions.

The response rate was 41%, with 190 of the 464 eligible physicians completing the survey. Eighty-seven percent of respondents had not received formal training in genetics, with 80% reporting involvement in the evaluation of genetic patients. Physicians' involvement in genetic testing and pharmacogenomics was low at 31% and 29% respectively. Sixty-four percent of the respondents graded their knowledge of genetics as moderate. Participants identified limited access to medical geneticist (80%), lack of referral guidelines (86%), high cost of genetic services (93%), and inadequate knowledge of genetics as barriers to genetic service delivery.

Uptake of genomic service provision to patients by physicians remains low due to inadequate genetics training, limited number of specialists, in genetics and prohibitive costs of genomic testing. Mitigation of these factors is required to improve access to genetic care.