Direct-to-consumer genetic testing is on the rise, but physicians don’t necessarily know how to talk to patients about their test results or incorporate the test results into treatment plans.
So the Scripps Translational Science Institute is trying to develop an online video program to educate physicians, students, and others about genomic medicine.
“It has been well-documented that far less than 10 percent of physicians feel comfortable with any genomic data of patients, which comes into play especially in prescription medications that have a (Food and Drug Administration) genomic label,” said Eric Topol, director of the Scripps institute and chief academic officer for Scripps Health.
In those cases, Topol said, doctors are supposed to get a patient’s genotype before they prescribe the medication. But too often, he said, the physicians don’t take that step.
Related on the SLP
Read the full, original story here: Educating doctors, patients on genetics
Additional Resources:
- Scripps Genomics Primer, Scripps Translational Science Institute
The Scripps Institute already provides interactive genomic tutorials for the general public.
- “Educating Physicians About Genomics: Are We Doing Enough?,” Medscape Today
Ricki Lewis suggests that medical students aren’t well-equipped to work with genetic information for patients and also offers ideas for improvement.
