Abstract
In Japan, cancer education has been initiated with children as a measure against cancer. Cancer genome medicine, which is a social implementation, includes aspects of genetic medicine. For this reason, it is assumed that content related to “genetics” is also necessary in cancer education. To investigate the actual situation regarding the teaching of genetics in cancer education, we conducted a questionnaire survey of schoolteachers involved in cancer education; these schoolteachers belonged to the model school of the Cancer Education Comprehensive Support Project. Regarding genetic content, we asked questions related to two aspects: “the molecular genetic mechanisms of cancer” and “the phenomenon of sharing cancer in the family.” The results showed that about 60% of the teachers had experience teaching content related to the molecular genetic mechanisms of cancer and the phenomenon of sharing cancer in the family. While many teachers felt that teaching genetics in cancer education was necessary, they also felt that there were difficulties in doing so: 65.2% for content related to the molecular genetic mechanisms of cancer and 70.8% for that related to the phenomenon of sharing cancer in the family. It is important to properly treat cancer as a genetic disease, and it is necessary to examine government curriculum guidelines and establish a collaborative system among other subjects. In addition, the involvement of specialists in genetic medicine and psychosocial support is expected to improve teachers’ genetic literacy as well as to communicate with students with consideration for their family history.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank all who assisted in the questionnaire survey for their support in our research.
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F. Y. K., M. S., and H. M. contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and data collection were performed by F. Y. K. Analysis was performed by F. Y. K., A. K., and R. K. The manuscript was written by F. Y. K. and helped revise the manuscript by M. S. and H. M. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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This survey was approved by the Ethics Committee of Humanities and Social Sciences at Ochanomizu University (no. 2019–99).
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Yamada-Kurebayashi, F., Sasaki, M., Kuga, A. et al. Human genetics education as part of the Japanese Cancer Education Comprehensive Support Project. J Community Genet 14, 163–174 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12687-022-00623-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12687-022-00623-x