Abstract
With the expansion of genetic testing options due to tremendous advances in sequencing technologies, testing will increasingly be offered by a variety of healthcare providers in diverse settings, as has been observed with BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA) gene testing over the last decade. In an effort to assess the educational needs and preferences of healthcare providers primarily in a community-based setting, we mailed a survey to healthcare providers across Florida who order BRCA testing. Within the packet, a supplemental card was included to give participants the opportunity to request free clinical educational resources from the investigative team. Of 81 eligible providers who completed the survey, most were physicians or nurse practitioners; and over 90 % worked in a community or private practice setting. Respondents provided BRCA testing services for a median of 5 years, but the majority (56 %) reported no formal training in clinical cancer genetics. Most respondents (95 %) expressed interest in formal training opportunities, with 3-day in-person weekend training representing the most highly preferred format. The most widely selected facilitators to participation were minimal requirement to take time off work and continuing education credits. Overall, 64 % of respondents requested free clinical educational resources. Preferences for informal education included written materials and in-person presentations; whereas accessing a DVD or website were less popular. Findings from our study highlight both the need for and interest in ongoing educational opportunities and resources among community providers who order BRCA testing. These results can be used to enhance participation of community-based providers in educational training programs by targeting educational resources to the most preferred format.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by a grant through Florida Biomedical (IBG09-34198). We acknowledge the Survey Methods Core Facility at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute for developing versions of the survey that could be scanned into an electronic data file.
Conflict of Interest
This study was supported by a grant through Florida Biomedical (IBG09-34198). However Florida Biomedical played no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, or the decision to publish this research. The authors have no real or perceived conflicts of interest to disclose. The authors report no competing financial interests or personal relationships that might bias this research.
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Cragun, D., Besharat, A.D., Lewis, C. et al. Educational Needs and Preferred Methods of Learning Among Florida Practitioners Who Order Genetic Testing for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer. J Canc Educ 28, 690–697 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-013-0525-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-013-0525-6