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Preconception counseling: do patients learn about genetics from their obstetrician gynecologists?

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Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this observational survey study is to assess genetic knowledge in reproductive-aged women and to determine the role played by their obstetricians in their education.

Methods

A 31-item survey was distributed via an internet survey service to women between the ages of 18 and 45. The survey included subject demographics, a query regarding the source of subjects’ knowledge of genetics, and 6 question genetics quiz with 3 fundamental questions and 3 advanced questions. Subjects were divided into parous and nulliparous groups, and responses were compared using student’s t-test for continuous variables and chi square for proportions.

Results

Participants included 207 parous and 221 nulliparous women. There were no differences in demographic characteristics including age and education. Parous women scored significantly higher than nulliparous women on the fundamental genetics quiz (71 vs 61 %, p = 0.03). This difference remained but was no longer significant when the 3 advanced questions were included (48 vs 42 %). Only 39 % of parous and 8 % of nulliparous subjects listed their physician as one of their main sources of genetic information. 78 % of all subjects stated that they would prefer to receive genetic information from their physicians over other sources.

Conclusions

Recently parous women scored higher on a genetics assessment quiz than did their nulliparous counterparts, but the majority did not cite their obstetrician gynecologists as a main source of information. As genetic counseling and testing are becoming increasingly important aspects of obstetrical care, obstetricians should play a more substantial role in educating their patients.

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Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflicts of Interest: John E Buster is the medical director of Previvogententics LLP and a shareholder in that company. Previvogenetics is a medical device company applicable to the field of genetic diagnosis. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Funding

Funding provided by divisional funds from the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility in the Department of OB/GYN at Women and Infants Hospital

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington St, Boston, MA, 02111, USA

    Adrienne H. Mandelberger, John E. Buster, William C. Strohsnitter & Beth J. Plante

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Infants Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 222 Richmond St, Providence, RI, 02903, USA

    Jared C. Robins, John E. Buster & Beth J. Plante

  3. 1176 5th Avenue, 9th floor., New York, NY, 10029, USA

    Adrienne H. Mandelberger

Authors
  1. Adrienne H. Mandelberger
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  2. Jared C. Robins
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  3. John E. Buster
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  4. William C. Strohsnitter
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  5. Beth J. Plante
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adrienne H. Mandelberger.

Additional information

Capsule Parous women score higher on a genetics assessment quiz than nulliparous women but do not site their obstetricians as a source of their genetic knowledge.

APPENDIX A

APPENDIX A

Quiz Questions

  1. 1.

    If neither you nor your partner has been diagnosed with a genetic disease, is it possible for your children to inherit one?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

    3. c.

      Don't know

  2. 2.

    How is Cystic Fibrosis most commonly transmitted?

    1. a.

      Direct contact with an affected person

    2. b.

      Inherited from parents

    3. c.

      Environmental exposures

    4. d.

      It is not known

    5. e.

      Don't know

  3. 3.

    What kind of test is typically used to determine if someone is a carrier for sickle cell anemia?

    1. a.

      Blood

    2. b.

      Urine

    3. c.

      X-ray

    4. d.

      Bone marrow biopsy

    5. e.

      Don't know

  4. 4.

    Disease X is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion. If 2 partners are both silent carriers for disease X and they have a child together, what is the likelihood that child will have disease X?

    1. a.

      100%

    2. b.

      50%

    3. c.

      25%

    4. d.

      10%

    5. e.

      Don't know

  5. 5.

    To your konwledge, is there a way to avoid pregnancy affected by genetic disease X if both partners are silent carriers and they wish to have a child that is biologically theirs?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

    3. c.

      Don't know

  6. 6.

    If two partners are both silent carriers of genetic disease X and they wish to avoid a pregnancy affected by the disease, which technology is their best option to have a child that is genetically theirs?

    1. a.

      Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)

    2. b.

      Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

    3. c.

      Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

    4. d.

      Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

    5. e.

      There is currently no way to avoid a pregnancy affected by the disease

    6. f.

      Don't know

    Of Note: Questions 1-3 were considered fundamental, 4-6 were considered advanced. Answer choices were randomized for each respondent. Respondents could not move backwa

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Mandelberger, A.H., Robins, J.C., Buster, J.E. et al. Preconception counseling: do patients learn about genetics from their obstetrician gynecologists?. J Assist Reprod Genet 32, 1145–1149 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0491-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0491-5

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