title: Effectiveness of oncogenetics training on general practitioners' consultation skills: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  General practitioners are increasingly called upon to deliver genetic services and could play a key role in translating potentially life-saving advancements in oncogenetic technologies to patient care. If general practitioners are to make an effective contribution in this area, their genetics competencies need to be upgraded. The aim of this study was to investigate whether oncogenetics training for general practitioners improves their genetic consultation skills.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this pragmatic, blinded, randomized controlled trial, the intervention consisted of a 4-h training (December 2011 and April 2012), covering oncogenetic consultation skills (family history, familial risk assessment, and efficient referral), attitude (medical ethical issues), and clinical knowledge required in primary-care consultations. Outcomes were measured using observation checklists by unannounced standardized patients and self-reported questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 88 randomized general practitioners who initially agreed to participate, 56 completed all measurements. Key consultation skills significantly and substantially improved; regression coefficients after intervention were equivalent to 0.34 and 0.28 at 3-month follow-up, indicating a moderate effect size. Satisfaction and perceived applicability of newly learned skills were highly scored.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The general practitioner-specific training proved to be a feasible, satisfactory, and clinically applicable method to improve oncogenetics consultation skills and could be used as an educational framework to inform future training activities with the ultimate aim of improving medical care.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Clinical Genetics, Section of Community Genetics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands [2] Department of General Practice, School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elisa J F
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Houwink
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Development and Research, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arno M M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Muijtjens
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Genetics, Section of Community Genetics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sarah R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: van Teeffelen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Genetics, Section of Community Genetics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lidewij
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Henneman
authors.affiliation: Skills Lab, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan Joost
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Rethans
authors.affiliation: The Dutch College of General Practitioners (NHG), Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Liesbeth E J
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: van der Jagt
authors.affiliation: Department of Education and Resident Training, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Scheltus J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: van Luijk
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Geert Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Dinant
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Development and Research, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cees
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van der Vleuten
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Genetics, Section of Community Genetics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martina C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cornel
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000193:education* / Q000941:ethics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005826:Genetics, Medical / Q000193:education*; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000193:education*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057566:Self Report