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Awareness of Hereditary Cancer in Osteopathic Physicians
Cohn, J. E. [1]
Soshnick, S. [2]
Blazey, W. [5]
Koehler, S. [1]
Laurent, B. [2]
Chan, V. [3]
Jung, M.K. [11]
Tegay, D. [1]
Krishnamachari, B. [7]

Journal: The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association Date: 2014/01, 114(1):Pages: e14. doi: Subito , type of study: cross sectional study

Full text    (https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7556/jom_2014_01.0001/html)

Keywords:

cancer [51]
cross sectional study [662]
knowledge [41]
osteopathic physicians [179]
USA [1166]

Abstract:

Introduction: Cancer genetic testing can aid cancer screening and prevention in high-risk patients. Studies demonstrate that physicians are more likely to order genetic testing due to patient inquiry rather than recommended guidelines. It is unclear to what extent osteopathic primary care physicians are aware of standards of care for hereditary cancer. Hypothesis: Physicians will have decreased awareness of genetic testing and hereditary cancer guidelines. This can be best evidenced by responses to survey questions pertaining to current national guidelines in place. Methods: From August to November 2012, a survey was administered to osteopathic physicians evaluating past training in genetics and knowledge regarding hereditary cancer. Results: 140 osteopathic physicians (82.9% family practice or internal medicine) responded to the survey. Most physicians were aware that if a person is found to have a hereditary cancer mutation, something can be done to improve screening for cancer (n=121, 86.4%). For cancer syndromes affecting mostly women, most physicians falsely believed that maternal history is more important than paternal history (n=49, 34.5%). In the total study population, only 46.4% (n=65) of physicians correctly answered that genetic tests ordered for a given hereditary condition would not be the same regardless of the patient's ethnicity. Only a quarter of the physicians correctly identified that molecular tests other than sequencing must be used to detect gene deletions or re-arrangements (n=33, 23.6%). Compared to physicians who do not frequently refer patients for genetic services, physicians who do frequently refer were more likely to recognize that if a person is found to have hereditary cancer mutation, something can be done to improve screening for cancer (OR=3.51; 95% CI, 1.10, 11.19; P<.05). Conclusion: Our data suggest that genetics training may be associated with awareness of general risk assessment for hereditary cancer. However, in other areas, a vast majority of physicians surveyed had knowledge deficiencies in regards to hereditary cancer, regardless of reported past genetics training. Adding to existing literature, results from this study reinforce the need for continuing medical education on hereditary cancer to be made easily available to all physicians.

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