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Genetics professionals are key to the integration of genetic testing within the practice of frontline clinicians.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Scheuner, MT; Sales, P; Hoggatt, K; Zhang, N; Whooley, MA; Kelley, MJ
Published in: Genet Med
January 2023

PURPOSE: Genetic tests have become widely available. We sought to understand the use of genetic tests in the practice of frontline clinicians within the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). METHODS: We administered a web-based survey to clinicians at 20 VA facilities. Physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists were eligible. We excluded genetics providers and clinicians not seeing patients. We used multiple logistic regression to evaluate the associations between clinician characteristics and experience with genetics. RESULTS: The response rate was 11.3% (1207/10,680) and of these, 909 respondents were eligible. Only 20.8% of the respondents reported feeling prepared to use genetic tests and 13.0% of the respondents were currently ordering genetic tests; although, it was usually only 1 or 2 a year. Delivery of genetic tests without involving genetics providers was preferred by only 7.9% of the respondents. Characteristics positively associated with currently ordering genetic tests included practice in clinical and research settings, believing improving genetics knowledge could alter their practice, feeling prepared to use genetic tests, and referral of at least 1 patient to genetics in the past year. CONCLUSION: Most VA clinicians don't feel prepared to use genetic tests. Those with genetic testing experience are more likely to consult genetics providers. The demand for genetics providers should increase as frontline clinicians use genetic tests in their practice.

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Published In

Genet Med

DOI

EISSN

1530-0366

Publication Date

January 2023

Volume

25

Issue

1

Start / End Page

103 / 114

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • United States
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Physicians
  • Pharmacists
  • Humans
  • Genetics & Heredity
  • Genetic Testing
  • 3105 Genetics
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Scheuner, M. T., Sales, P., Hoggatt, K., Zhang, N., Whooley, M. A., & Kelley, M. J. (2023). Genetics professionals are key to the integration of genetic testing within the practice of frontline clinicians. Genet Med, 25(1), 103–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gim.2022.09.012
Scheuner, Maren T., Paloma Sales, Katherine Hoggatt, Ning Zhang, Mary A. Whooley, and Michael J. Kelley. “Genetics professionals are key to the integration of genetic testing within the practice of frontline clinicians.Genet Med 25, no. 1 (January 2023): 103–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gim.2022.09.012.
Scheuner MT, Sales P, Hoggatt K, Zhang N, Whooley MA, Kelley MJ. Genetics professionals are key to the integration of genetic testing within the practice of frontline clinicians. Genet Med. 2023 Jan;25(1):103–14.
Scheuner, Maren T., et al. “Genetics professionals are key to the integration of genetic testing within the practice of frontline clinicians.Genet Med, vol. 25, no. 1, Jan. 2023, pp. 103–14. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.gim.2022.09.012.
Scheuner MT, Sales P, Hoggatt K, Zhang N, Whooley MA, Kelley MJ. Genetics professionals are key to the integration of genetic testing within the practice of frontline clinicians. Genet Med. 2023 Jan;25(1):103–114.

Published In

Genet Med

DOI

EISSN

1530-0366

Publication Date

January 2023

Volume

25

Issue

1

Start / End Page

103 / 114

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • United States
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Physicians
  • Pharmacists
  • Humans
  • Genetics & Heredity
  • Genetic Testing
  • 3105 Genetics
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences