Teaching genetics to medical students. Report of a Working Party of the Clinical Genetics Committee of the Royal College of Physicians

Abstract

Rapid developments in molecular biology coupled with increased patient awareness and expectations emphasize the importance of ensuring that medical students are familiar with the principles of human genetics and their applications in clinical and preventive medicine. The present survey by the Royal College of Physicians of British medical schools revealed very variable teaching of genetics with a mean of 20 hours pre-clinical (range 2-66 hours) and 5.5 hours timetabled clinical teaching. Teaching was given by many different departments and was generally of unknown quality or clinical relevance. In contrast, a questionnaire survey of pre-clinical and clinical teachers in the main subjects and specialties demonstrated strong and consistent support for a genetic curriculum and the development of basic genetic skills by students by the end of the medical course. In view of this response, recommendations are made to institute a genetic core curriculum with a framework of timetabled clinical genetic teaching. It is also recommended that a Genetic Education Task Group be established to co-ordinate implementation and to ensure the clinical relevance of genetic teaching.