Abstract for presentation at 11th International Congress of Human Genetics

Development of a national genetics resource for general practitioners in Australia

  • A/Prof Sylvia Metcalfe, GEM Consortium, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Dept Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  • Dr Kristine Barlow-Stewart, GEM Consortium, The Centre for Genetics Education, NSW Genetics Service, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • Ms Yasmin Bylstra, GEM Consortium, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  • Mr Luke Morphett, GEM Consortium, The Centre for Genetics Education, NSW Genetics Service, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • Ms Gabrielle Reid, GEM Consortium, Discipline of General Practice, University of Western Australia, WA, Australia
  • Prof Jon Emery, GEM Consortium, Discipline of General Practice, University of Western Australia, WA, Australia

    • The Genetics Education in Medicine (GEM) Consortium has been contracted by the Commonwealth Government through Biotechnology Australia to develop and pilot Genetics in Family Medicine: The Australian Resource for General Practitioners, with guidance from the National Advisory Group on Genetics Education for General Practitioners (NAGGEGP). The first draft of the resource, developed following a national needs assessment, was the culmination of the Phase 1 of an initiative to develop a strategy for GP education. The current draft version contains 17 chapters of topics of relevance to GPs and a fold-out ‘cheat sheet’ of major concepts for each topic. Each chapter has a particular focus on key points, the GP’s role, referral processes and testing. Phase 2 of the strategy involves obtaining feedback and piloting the resource, and entails: peer-review of each chapter with experts to address issues of accuracy; feedback by key stakeholders (40-50 different organizations) to ensure relevancy and practicality issues, including design and layout; pilot testing content and use of the resource with GPs Australia-wide. The piloting process involves focus groups, small group learning activities, and online evaluation with pre- and post-questionnaires. This strategy ensures that such a resource is developed to a high standard that will meet GPs’ expectations and will provide a relevant and practical resource to be used in the clinic. It is anticipated that this resource will become the ‘gold standard’ of information to support the practice of genetics in family medicine by GPs throughout Australia. The resource will be available as an updateable folder (print) and online. A separate consumer version which will reflect the content of the GP resource, is being developed by a medical journalist in conjunction with the Australasian Genetic Alliance. This approach of rigorous consultation and evaluation is widely applicable to resource development at an international level.

    Conference Organiser - ICMS Pty Ltd