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Genetic Counseling Practice Analysis

  • Original Research
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Journal of Genetic Counseling

Abstract

The American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) performed a genetic counseling practice analysis (PA) to determine the content of the certification examination. The ABGC-appointed PA Advisory Committee worked with psychometricians to develop a survey which was distributed to 2,038 genetic counselors in the United States and Canada. The survey was also accessible on the ABGC website. Multiple criteria were used to establish the significance of the tasks included in the survey. A total of 677 responses were used in the analysis, representing a 37.1% corrected response rate. Five major content domains with 143 tasks were identified in the PA. New certification test specifications were developed on the basis of PA results and will be used in developing future examination forms. In keeping with credentialing standards, ABGC plans to conduct a PA on a regular basis so that the content of the examination reflects current practice.

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks are due for the significant contributions of the ABGC 2008 Board of Directors: Robin E. Grubs, PhD, CGC (President); Lisa Amacker-North, MS, CGC (Treasurer); Carol Walton, MS, CGC (Credentials Chair); Leslie Cohen, MS, CGC (Accreditation Chair); Janice Berliner, MS, CGC; Debra Lochner-Doyle, MS, CGC; Anne Greb, MS, CGC; Heather Hampel, MS, CGC; Barbara Pettersen, MS, CGC; Cathi Rubin-Franklin, MS, CGC.

We are grateful to the counselors involved in pilot testing the survey including the 2008 ABGC BOD and Diana Bailey, MS, CGC; Ryan Bisson, MS, CGC; Amanda Carre, MS, CGC; MaryAnn Whalen, MS, CGC; Jean Jirikowic, MS, CGC; Lisen Axell, MS, CGC; Amy Sturm, MS, CGC; Maureen Smith, MS, CGC; Allison Cirino, MS, CGC; Devon Lamb Thrush, MS, CGC and Kristin Peterson Oehlke, MS, CGC. Thanks to Janet Lucas Giandomenico, MS, CGC, CCGC for distributing our survey to members of the Canadian Association of Genetic Counselors. We also appreciate the assistance of the ABGC Executive Director, Sheila O’Neal. Finally, we would like to thank all the genetic counselors who completed the survey for making this a success and helping to determine the content of future board certification examinations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. American Board of Genetic Counseling, Olathe, KS, USA

    Heather Hampel, Robin E. Grubs & Carol S. Walton

  2. Division of Human Genetics, The Ohio State University, 2050 Kenny Road, 8th floor tower, Columbus, OH, 43221, USA

    Heather Hampel

  3. The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Robin E. Grubs

  4. The University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA

    Carol S. Walton & Lisa Ku

  5. Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc., Olathe, KS, USA

    Emma Nguyen, Daniel H. Breidenbach & Steve Nettles

  6. Genzyme Genetics, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Meagan Corliss

  7. McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Stephanie Fox

  8. Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Susan Hiraki

  9. University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA

    Whitney Neufeld-Kaiser

  10. Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center, Lincoln, NE, USA

    Bronson Riley

  11. Genzyme Genetics, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Jamie Taylor

  12. Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    LuAnn Weik

Authors
  1. Heather Hampel
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  2. Robin E. Grubs
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  3. Carol S. Walton
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  4. Emma Nguyen
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  5. Daniel H. Breidenbach
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  6. Steve Nettles
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  7. Meagan Corliss
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  8. Stephanie Fox
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  9. Susan Hiraki
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  10. Lisa Ku
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  11. Whitney Neufeld-Kaiser
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  12. Bronson Riley
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  13. Jamie Taylor
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  14. LuAnn Weik
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Consortia

The American Board of Genetic Counseling 2008 Practice Analysis Advisory Committee including Nancy Callanan

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Heather Hampel.

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Hampel, H., Grubs, R.E., Walton, C.S. et al. Genetic Counseling Practice Analysis. J Genet Counsel 18, 205–216 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-009-9216-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-009-9216-1

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