The development and evaluation of a nationwide training program for oncology health professionals in the provision of genetic testing for ovarian cancer patients

Pilot study of an online training program to increase genetic literacy and communication skills in oncology healthcare professionals discussing BRCA1/2 genetic testing with breast and ovarian cancer patients

“…The content of the website was based on a previously developed face-to-face workshop training module for oncology healthcare professionals to enable mainstreamed genetic testing [ 35 ]. This module in turn was informed by a formerly published mainstreaming training module [ 7 ], our previous research findings [ 28 , 36 ], national guidelines regarding who was eligible for testing [ 9 ] and expert opinion.…”

“…Links to resources are provided to: the national guidelines on BRCA1/2 genetic testing [ 9 ]; Medicare Benefits Schedule items to ensure correct ordering of tests [ 13 , 16 ]; a list of local familial cancer clinics/genetics services; and a guide to using the Manchester scoring system to assess a patient’s eligibility for genetic testing under the Medicare Benefits Schedule, adapted from Evans et al [ 37 ]. Other tools and resources to support mainstream genetic testing were based on the developed face-to-face workshop training module for oncology healthcare professionals to enable mainstreamed genetic testing [ 35 ]. These tools and resources included: a flow chart describing the mainstream genetic testing process, a patient consent form template, a genetic test request form template and a sample script to help guide the introduction of mainstream genetic testing to patients.…”

“…These tools and resources included: a flow chart describing the mainstream genetic testing process, a patient consent form template, a genetic test request form template and a sample script to help guide the introduction of mainstream genetic testing to patients. Two patient education brochures are also included: (i) on BRCA1/2 genetic testing in women newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer (developed as part of the previous workshop training [ 35 ]), and (ii) on treatment-focused genetic testing for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer [ 27 ]. Finally, a fact sheet on life insurance and genetic testing is included.…”

Postgraduate training in Cancer Genetics—a cross-specialty survey exploring experience of clinicians in Ireland

“…It has been proposed in several studies that the most effective way to ensure the integration of genetics/genomics into a health care system is by enhanced specialist training and continuing education for current physicians [ 6 – 8 ]. The barriers to the implementation of genomic medicine into healthcare that have been identified include lack of formal training programmes in genetics and genomics and limited access to educational information [ 9 – 11 ]. Deficiencies in such training, and associated lack of confidence on the part of non-geneticists have also been identified as one of the barriers in appropriate referral of patients to Clinical Genetics services [ 12 , 13 ].…”

“…There are fewer vocationally trained medical geneticists per head of population in the Republic of Ireland than most of our European counterparts [ 14 ]. The National Cancer Strategy (2017–2026) has acknowledged the acute need for oncologists to up-skill in the area of Genomic Medicine to assist in service provision in the face of increasing demand for genomic testing [ 11 ], but up to now, there has been no formal post-graduate training available to clinicians in Ireland.…”