Abstract
Specialization within genetic counseling is apparent, with 29 primary specialties listed in the National Society of Genetic Counselors’ 2012 Professional Status Survey (PSS). PSS results show a steady proportion of genetic counselors primarily involved in public health, yet do not identify all those performing public health activities. Little is known about the skills needed to perform activities outside of “traditional” genetic counselor roles and the expertise needed to execute those skills. This study aimed to identify genetic counselors engaging in public health activities, the skills used, and the most influential sources of learning for those skills. Participants (N = 155) reported involvement in several public health categories: (a) Education of Public and/or Health Care Providers (n = 80, 52 %), (b) Population-Based Screening Programs (n = 70, 45 %), (c) Lobbying/Public Policy (n = 62, 40 %), (d) Public Health Related Research (n = 47, 30 %), and (e) State Chronic Disease Programs (n = 12, 8 %). Regardless of category, “on the job” was the most common primary source of learning. Genetic counseling training program was the most common secondary source of learning. Results indicate that the number of genetic counselors performing public health activities is likely higher than PSS reports, and that those who may not consider themselves “public health genetic counselors” do participate in public health activities. Genetic counselors learn a diverse skill set in their training programs; some skills are directly applicable to public health genetics, while other public health skills require additional training and/or knowledge.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling. (2013). Practice-Based Competencies for Genetic Counselors Retrieved February 4, 2014 from http://gceducation.org/Documents/ACGC%20Practice%20Based%20Competencies_13-Final-Web.pdf
Burke, W., Khoury, M. J., Stewart, A., Zimmern, R. L., & Bellagio Group. (2006). The path from genome-based research to population health: development of an international public health genomics network. Genet Med., 8(7), 451–8.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Translating advances in human genetics into public health action: a strategic plan (1997). Retrieved August 28, 2014 from http://www.cdc.gov/genetics/about/reports/1997.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2002). Genomics Translation: Family History Public Health Initiative. Retrieved June 20, 2014 from http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/famhistory/famhist.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2004). Genomics Translation: Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention (EGAPP™). Retrieved June 20, 2014 from http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/gtesting/EGAPP/
Collins, D. L., & McInerney, J. D. (2009). Genetic counselors as educators. In W. Uhlmann, J. Schuette, & B. Yashar (Eds.), A Guide to Genetic Counseling (2nd ed., pp. 485–522). Hoboken: Wiley.
Estabrooks, SE, Burkett, E, & Melvin, E. (2003). Roles, skills and training of research genetic counselors. Personal Communication. Duke University, Oregon University
Khoury, M. J., & Bowen, S. (2014). The Public Health Role in Translating Advances in Genomics. Clinical OMICs, 8(12), 12–15.
National Society of Genetic Counselors. (2004). 2004 Professional Status Survey Retrieved January 31, 2014, from http://nsgc.org/p/cm/ld/fid=68
National Society of Genetic Counselors. (2006). 2006 Professional Status Survey Retrieved January 31, 2014, from http://nsgc.org/p/cm/ld/fid=68
National Society of Genetic Counselors. (2008). 2008 Professional Status Survey Retrieved January 31, 2014, from http://nsgc.org/p/cm/ld/fid=68
National Society of Genetic Counselors. (2010). 2010 Professional Status Survey: Work Environment Retrieved January 31, 2014, from http://nsgc.org/p/cm/ld/fid=68
National Society of Genetic Counselors. (2012a). 2012 Professional Status Survey: Executive Summary Retrieved February 4, 2014, from http://nsgc.org/p/cm/ld/fid=68
National Society of Genetic Counselors. (2012b). 2012 Professional Status Survey: Work Environment Retrieved January 31, 2014, from http://nsgc.org/p/cm/ld/fid=68
Powell, K. P., Hasegawa, L., & McWalter, K. (2010). Expanding roles: a survey of public health genetic counselors. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 19(6), 593–605. doi:10.1007/s10897-010-9313-1.
Acknowledgments
This project was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the second author’s Master of Science degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and was partially funded by the NSGC PHSIG. Thank you to Joseph Telfair, Dr. Ph, MSW who provided his expertise in survey design and to the genetic counselors who piloted this survey. A very special thanks to all the participants who completed the survey.
Conflict Of Interest
Authors Kirsty M. McWalter, Mallory R. Sdano, Gaurav Dave, Karen P. Powell and Nancy Callanan declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Human Studies and Informed Consent
All procedures performed involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standardsof the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its lateramendments or comparable ethical standards.
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants includedin the study.
Animal Studies
This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McWalter, K.M., Sdano, M.R., Dave, G. et al. Public Health Genetic Counselors: Activities, Skills, and Sources of Learning. J Genet Counsel 24, 438–451 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-014-9795-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-014-9795-3