Meeting Proceedings

 

Incorporating Genetic Medicine & Technology into Practice and Service
Maternal and Child Health Bureau
Arlington, Virginia – 1 November 1999

Working Group on Literacy and Training

The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Resources and Services Administration, and the National Institutes of Health have prepared a Memorandum of Understanding To Enhance the Translation of Genetics into Health Policy and Practice.  This working group must address the following goals from that document:

·                      facilitate the development of well-prepared community of health professionals capable of communicating the benefits, risks, and limitations of genetic testing and accurately interpreting and appropriately utilizing genetic information in practice; and

·                      improve the genetic literacy of the public to enhance their understanding of the benefits, risks, and limitations of genetic testing and the meaning and implications of genetic information.

For our purposes today, “literacy” refers to education of the public and “training” refers to the education of health professionals.   By the time we conclude this session, we should have answered the following questions:

For training of health professionals

·                      How can training programs improve understanding of the relationship between genetics and public health, especially for those involved with chronic disease?

·                      How can training programs demonstrate that an understanding of genetics will help to improve patient outcomes?

·                      Should MCHB develop a set of core competencies for training of health professionals, or should the bureau adopt those of another organization, such as NCHPEG?

·                      Which health professionals are the most important audiences for MCHB training programs in genetics?

For developing public literacy

·                      How does (should)  MCHB define “the public”?

·                      What genetics-related concepts should members of the public understand to make them full partners in the health-care programs provided by the bureau?

·                      What are the most effective mechanisms, within MCHB programs, for reaching the public with information about genetics?

General questions

·                      What existing resources can MCHB use to implement new initiatives in training and literacy?

·                      What existing policies, programs, or structures are likely to impede the bureau’s ability to improve training and literacy in genetics?

·                      What new policies, programs, or structures should MCHB consider to improve training and literacy in genetics?

·                      How can MCHB avoid duplicating activities undertaken by other agencies in the public or private sectors?

·                      How will MCHB know it has been successful in improving training and literary in genetics?

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