Role-play in graduate genetic counseling education: a practicum experience in South Korea

Clinical fieldwork in genetic counseling education is constrained by limited training sites, shortages of clinical supervisors, and administrative burdens. Simulation-based learning, including role-play, has therefore been used to support development of counseling competencies. This study described the development, implementation, operational structure, and feasibility of a role-play-based practicum in a graduate genetic counseling program.

This retrospective descriptive report was based on Genetic Counseling Practicum, a spring 2024 course for 11 third-semester students in a graduate genetic counseling program in South Korea. Twenty-two role-play scenarios were developed, including 11 hereditary cancer cases and 11 pediatric or adult genetic disorder cases. The scenarios simulated pretest and posttest encounters during a 6-week, 2-block practicum. Students alternated between counselor and counselee roles, recorded sessions outside class time, and received domain-guided peer and faculty feedback.

The scenarios covered patient ages from infancy to late adulthood and included somatic and germline pathogenic variants, a negative multigene panel result, and chromosomal or epigenetic abnormalities. All 22 planned sessions were completed and recorded as scheduled, and all 11 students completed their assigned sessions. The planned assignment, recording, review, and feedback procedures were completed without documented omissions. Approximately 11 scheduled class hours were devoted to feedback, and no external clinical sites or supervisors were required.

This study presents an operationally feasible model for a role-play-based practicum with diverse scenarios in a graduate genetic counseling curriculum. It may serve as a practical reference for programs considering similar simulation-based training.