KNOWLEDGE OF GENETICS AMONG RESIDENTS IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY

A supervised genetics examination was administered to 76 obstetrics an d gynecology (ob/gyn) residents from 15 different institutions in the Philadelphia area. The questions were specifically designed to be appl icable to obstetrical practice. Overall, the mean score was 69% (range 32%-88%). Using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney rank sum test, we foun d that the 25 residents from institutions with an obstetrics-gynecolog y-genetics (OGG) program, coordinated by an obstetrician/gynecologist board certified in clinical genetics, had statistically significant hi gher scores than the remaining 51 residents from institutions without an OGG program (77% vs. 65%, respectively; P <.001). This study demons trates that knowledge of genetics among residents in ob/gyn is deficie nt, especially among residents at institutions without OGG programs. S pecial efforts should be made to provide genetics education to these i ndividuals. We propose that more obstetricians be encouraged to pursue postgraduate training in genetics in light of the rapid development o f medical genetics; its application to prenatal screening, diagnosis, and counseling; the anticipated utilization of genetics services; and the need for educational initiatives geared toward ob/gyn patients.