Abstract
The demand for cystic fibrosis (CF) carrier testing is steadily growing, not only from individuals with raised a priori carrier risk, but also from the general population. This trend will likely exceed the availability of genetic counselors, making it impossible to provide standard face-to-face genetic counseling to all those asking for the test. In order to reduce the time needed to educate individuals on the basics of the disease, its genetic transmission, and carrier testing peculiarities, we developed an educational method based on an interactive computer program (IC). To assess the effectiveness of this program and to compare it to a classical genetic counseling session, we conducted a comparative trial. In a population setting of people undergoing assisted reproduction, 44 individuals were randomly assigned to either receiving standard one-on-one genetic counseling or education by the IC program. We measured pre- and post-intervention knowledge about CF genetic transmission and carrier testing. Starting from an equivalent baseline of correct answers to a specially designed multiple-choice questionnaire (47% in the counselor group and 45% in the computer group) both groups showed a highly significant and similar increase (reaching 84% in the counselor group and 85% in the computer group). The computer program under evaluation can successfully educate individuals considering genetic testing for CF.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 778-785 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part A |
| Volume | 155 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 2011 |
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Keywords
- Carrier testing
- Computer-assisted education
- Cystic fibrosis
- Genetic counseling
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics(clinical)
- Genetics
Cite this
An interactive computer program can effectively educate potential users of cystic fibrosis carrier tests. / Castellani, Carlo; Perobelli, Sandra; Bianchi, Vera; Seia, Manuela; Melotti, Paola; Zanolla, Luisa; Assael, Baroukh Maurice; Lalatta, Faustina.
In: American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part A, Vol. 155, No. 4, 04.2011, p. 778-785.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - An interactive computer program can effectively educate potential users of cystic fibrosis carrier tests
AU - Castellani, Carlo
AU - Perobelli, Sandra
AU - Bianchi, Vera
AU - Seia, Manuela
AU - Melotti, Paola
AU - Zanolla, Luisa
AU - Assael, Baroukh Maurice
AU - Lalatta, Faustina
PY - 2011/4
Y1 - 2011/4
N2 - The demand for cystic fibrosis (CF) carrier testing is steadily growing, not only from individuals with raised a priori carrier risk, but also from the general population. This trend will likely exceed the availability of genetic counselors, making it impossible to provide standard face-to-face genetic counseling to all those asking for the test. In order to reduce the time needed to educate individuals on the basics of the disease, its genetic transmission, and carrier testing peculiarities, we developed an educational method based on an interactive computer program (IC). To assess the effectiveness of this program and to compare it to a classical genetic counseling session, we conducted a comparative trial. In a population setting of people undergoing assisted reproduction, 44 individuals were randomly assigned to either receiving standard one-on-one genetic counseling or education by the IC program. We measured pre- and post-intervention knowledge about CF genetic transmission and carrier testing. Starting from an equivalent baseline of correct answers to a specially designed multiple-choice questionnaire (47% in the counselor group and 45% in the computer group) both groups showed a highly significant and similar increase (reaching 84% in the counselor group and 85% in the computer group). The computer program under evaluation can successfully educate individuals considering genetic testing for CF.
AB - The demand for cystic fibrosis (CF) carrier testing is steadily growing, not only from individuals with raised a priori carrier risk, but also from the general population. This trend will likely exceed the availability of genetic counselors, making it impossible to provide standard face-to-face genetic counseling to all those asking for the test. In order to reduce the time needed to educate individuals on the basics of the disease, its genetic transmission, and carrier testing peculiarities, we developed an educational method based on an interactive computer program (IC). To assess the effectiveness of this program and to compare it to a classical genetic counseling session, we conducted a comparative trial. In a population setting of people undergoing assisted reproduction, 44 individuals were randomly assigned to either receiving standard one-on-one genetic counseling or education by the IC program. We measured pre- and post-intervention knowledge about CF genetic transmission and carrier testing. Starting from an equivalent baseline of correct answers to a specially designed multiple-choice questionnaire (47% in the counselor group and 45% in the computer group) both groups showed a highly significant and similar increase (reaching 84% in the counselor group and 85% in the computer group). The computer program under evaluation can successfully educate individuals considering genetic testing for CF.
KW - Carrier testing
KW - Computer-assisted education
KW - Cystic fibrosis
KW - Genetic counseling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79953647140&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79953647140&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ajmg.a.33870
DO - 10.1002/ajmg.a.33870
M3 - Article
C2 - 21416590
AN - SCOPUS:79953647140
VL - 155
SP - 778
EP - 785
JO - American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part A
JF - American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part A
SN - 1552-4825
IS - 4
ER -