The new, free, online course was created after experts identified this area of unmet need and uses real world examples to help explain how genomics affects cases seen day to day in general practice centres.
It includes modules on how to interpret and discuss results from consumer DNA testing kits, such as 23andme, and gives more understanding about the genetic basis for disease and how to recognise genomic issues. Learners will reflect on how to sensitively discuss how genetics impact a patient’s risk of developing certain diseases, providing information on family planning when a family member has an inheritable disease, and the ethical issues around genomic testing.
The course is run by five expert educators who are all practising GPs that developed the materials, and who will be available on the forums to help answer any questions. The training will be three hours a week, over the course of three weeks to help create a social learning environment. Healthcare workers can follow the course in their own time and gain certification for their CPD.
Rachel Berkson, Education Manager at Wellcome Genome Campus Advanced Courses and Scientific Conferences, said: “We have created this course as genomics research is constantly evolving and is becoming hugely useful in primary care. However, currently there is no training that teaches GPs how they can use genomics tools to help their patients. Our course is completely free, and we understand that GPs are extremely busy so we have worked with experts in the field and GPs to make sure that everything included is relevant to Primary Care practitioners specifically.”
Dr Michelle Bishop, Education Lead, Genomics Education Programme, Health Education England, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of genomic research and sequencing for tracking and identifying disease. We want to make sure that health practitioners who see people at these early stages of primary care understand how to identify genomic issues that could be impacting their patients, and the tools that are available to help.”
This course will suit any healthcare worker in, or wanting to go into, primary care including current GPs, nurses, and trainees. This course will allow attendees to understand the genetics of disease, their implications, genetic tools that are available for them and how to refer patients to specialist genetic services.
Dr Imran Rafi, one of the lead educators, said: “Genomic data is starting to be used more and more in everyday life, but might not be fully understood. To help with this, this course has a section on explaining the principles around the data from commercial DNA testing and some of the data can provide sensitive health related information which may cause anxiety. Overall, the course has been produced with the aim of increasing confidence in the use of genomic information in day-to-day clinical practice.”
Dr Jude Hayward, one of the lead educators, said: “By using real-world examples, this course will highlight some common examples of how your genome impacts your risk of disease, including on breast cancer, cholesterol, and rare diseases, giving participants an understanding of genomics to help them to explain what this may mean to their patients’ lives.”
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