title: Educational priorities and current involvement in genetic practice: a survey of midwives in the Netherlands, UK and Sweden.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to investigate whether practising midwives are adequately prepared to integrate genetic information into their practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  a cross-sectional, postal, structured questionnaire survey was sent to practising midwives.
  
  
  METHODS
  practising midwives from the Netherlands (NL), Sweden (SE) and the United Kingdom (UK).
  
  
  METHODS
  1021 replies were received, achieving a response rate of 62%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  79% (799/1015) of midwives reported attending courses with some 'genetic content' during their initial training. Sixty-eight per cent (533/784) judged this to have been useful for clinical practice. Variation was seen between countries in the amount of genetic content in post-registration training (SE 87%, NL 44%, UK 17%) and most was considered useful. Questions assessing clinical activity identified a current need for genetic knowledge. Midwives described low levels of self-reported confidence both in overtly genetic procedures and in everyday tasks that were underpinned by genetic knowledge. For eight of the 12 procedures, fewer than 20% of midwives considered themselves to be confident. Differences were apparent between countries. Midwives identified psychosocial, screening and risk assessment aspects of genetic education as being important to them, rather than technical aspects or genetic science.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  given the low reported confidence with genetic issues in clinical practice, it is essential that this is addressed in terms of the amount, content and targeting of genetic education. This is especially important to ensure the success of national antenatal and baby screening programmes. The results of this study suggest that midwives would welcome further training in genetics, addressing genetic topics most relevant to their clinical practice.
authors: GenEd Coordinating Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. c.m.benjamin@bham.ac.uk
authors: Caroline M
authors: CM
authors: Benjamin
authors: Elizabeth N
authors: EN
authors: Anionwu
authors: Ulf
authors: U
authors: Kristoffersson
authors: Leo P
authors: LP
authors: ten Kate
authors: Anne Marie C
authors: AM
authors: Plass
authors: Irmgard
authors: I
authors: Nippert
authors: Claire
authors: C
authors: Julian-Reynier
authors: Hilary J
authors: HJ
authors: Harris
authors: Joerg
authors: J
authors: Schmidtke
authors: Kirsty
authors: K
authors: Challen
authors: Jean Marc
authors: JM
authors: Calefato
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Waterman
authors: Eileen
authors: E
authors: Powell
authors: Rodney
authors: R
authors: Harris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000379:methods; D005826:Genetics, Medical / Q000193:education*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D009426:Netherlands; D024802:Nurse's Role; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000451:nursing*; D013548:Sweden; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult