A Questionnaire Study of Medical Students' Comprehension of Clinical Genetics: The Necessity of Education in Clinical Genetics in Medical School
- VernacularTitle:医学部学生を対象とした臨床遺伝に関する理解度調査―医学部における臨床遺伝教育の必要性―
- Author:
Atsushi WATANABE
;
Takashi SHIMADA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
medical genetics;
clinical genetics;
molecular genetics;
genetic disease;
inherited disease
- From:Medical Education
2005;36(4):235-241
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Because of the rapid progress in genetic research, only a small part of what is known about clinical genetics is taught in medical schools. At Nippon Medical School a clinical genetics course for fourth-year students started in October 2002. In the present study, we used a questionnaire to investigate how well second-year medical school students understand clinical genetics. The results of the questionnaire suggested that many students are confused about basic concepts in clinical genetics, such as the differences between inherited disease and diseased caused by genetic disorders and between hereditary and chromosomal disorders and also suggested that education in clinical genetics is needed in medical schools. In the United States, guidelines for teaching genetics in medical schools have been established. However, in Japan, considering the lack of consensus about medical genetics terminology, to disseminate correct knowledge about clinical genetics, the present situation of medical genetics education in medical schools must be clarified, and various other measures, such as establishing what information should be taught, should be carried out.
