Clinical Integration of Genetic Risk Assessment in Family Medicine

This study, conducted by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the National Human Genome Research Institute, will characterize family physicians' attitudes and practices related to the genetics of complex disorders. As the front line of care for most Americans, family medicine will have a central role in seeing that new findings in genetics lead to disease prevention and health improvements. The information gained from this study could be useful in understanding and shaping the dissemination of genetic medicine in ways that improve the standard of primary care practice. Members of the AAFP will be randomly selected from the organization's membership records to be invited to participate in this two-phase study. The first phase is a web-based survey of AAFP members. In the second phase, a sub-sample of those who complete the survey will be re-contacted; half will be members who have enrolled in a year-long web-based curriculum related to medical genetics, and the other half will be those who have chosen not to enroll in the curriculum. Survey questions relate to the physicians' practices, knowledge, and opinions about implications of genomic medicine. Survey areas include family history taking; opinions about the future of genetics and family medicine; information about the physician and his or her practice; and physician's skills, attitudes and knowledge.