Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception of Nursing Students in Selected Private Universities on Integration of Genomic...

The rapid growth of genomics in healthcare has led to significant advances, and the integration of genetic information into clinical and patient education among nursing students during their training years is crucial to equip them for the genomic era. Therefore, this study assessed nursing students' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of integrating genetic information into clinical assessment and patient education.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 265 nursing students using the purposive sampling technique, from selected institutions. Data were collected over 2 months using structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Results were presented in frequencies and percentages. Association between variables was tested using binary logistic regression and chi-square at p ≤ 0.005.

The mean age of respondents was 22 ± 3 years. Overall, 74% had good knowledge of genomic concepts, 66% showed positive attitudes, and 59% had good perception towards integration of genomics into care. Key factors influencing integration included religious teachings (85%), family values (88.3%), access to genetic testing (89.8%), and lack of institutional support (92.5%). Binary logistic regression identified nurses' lack of genomic knowledge (OR = 6.00; 95% CI: 3.65-9.87; p = 0.001), unclear understanding of nursing roles (OR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.08-0.80; p = 0.019) and limited patient financial resources (OR = 0.25; 95% CI; 0.07-0.87; p = 0.029 were significantly associated with poor knowledge.

Nursing students at selected private institutions demonstrated a good grasp of genomic information, along with positive attitudes and perceptions about its integration into their practice. To ensure the proper delivery of personalized care in this new genomic era, nursing students must be educated on their roles as nurses in this area.