title: Knowledge and attitudes of gynecologists regarding genetic counseling for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
abstract: In a survey we investigated whether gynecologists are sufficiently knowledgeable to perform genetic counseling. It provides information for the development and evaluation of a counseling manual for professionals in primary health care. The members of the sample, consisting of 529 gynecologists in northern Germany, were mailed a questionnaire concerning their knowledge of and attitudes towards genetic counseling and testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC). The response rate was 32.5% (n = 172). The majority of the respondents (82%) have received requests from patients for genetic testing. Most would offer basic genetic counseling to their patients, 66% feel knowledgeable enough to do so. Physicians set high value on communicating clinical management options, but also consider psychosocial aspects to be important. The results suggest that HBOC genetics play a noticeable role in the practice of gynecology in Germany. There is consensus about the need for further educational training to deal with cancer genetics in physicians' daily practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr 52 Pav 69, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. mehnert@uke-uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehnert
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bergelt
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D006176:Gynecology; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011361:Professional Competence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires