{"title":"Need for integration of genetic counselors in the Portuguese healthcare: Their added value from the medical geneticists perspective.","authors":"Ruxanda Lungu, Lídia Guimarães, Catarina Costa, Milena Paneque","doi":"10.1002/jgc4.1950","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Genetic counseling plays a crucial role in providing individuals and families with comprehensive information, support, and guidance regarding genetic conditions. This article explores the benefits of the integration of the genetic counselor (GC) professional in Portugal and based on evidence collected from two focus group comprising Portuguese medical geneticists. The findings highlight the agreement of medical geneticists on the relevancy of GCs' integration into national healthcare as well as the need for education and training programs to enhance the genetics literacy of other healthcare professionals and increase public awareness and support for genetic counseling services. By incorporating GCs and adopting some actions suggested by participants as part of a future national strategy, Portugal can improve access to personalized genetic services and empower individuals to make informed decisions about their genetic health.</p>","PeriodicalId":54829,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetic Counseling","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Genetic Counseling","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jgc4.1950","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"GENETICS & HEREDITY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Genetic counseling plays a crucial role in providing individuals and families with comprehensive information, support, and guidance regarding genetic conditions. This article explores the benefits of the integration of the genetic counselor (GC) professional in Portugal and based on evidence collected from two focus group comprising Portuguese medical geneticists. The findings highlight the agreement of medical geneticists on the relevancy of GCs' integration into national healthcare as well as the need for education and training programs to enhance the genetics literacy of other healthcare professionals and increase public awareness and support for genetic counseling services. By incorporating GCs and adopting some actions suggested by participants as part of a future national strategy, Portugal can improve access to personalized genetic services and empower individuals to make informed decisions about their genetic health.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Genetic Counseling (JOGC), published for the National Society of Genetic Counselors, is a timely, international forum addressing all aspects of the discipline and practice of genetic counseling. The journal focuses on the critical questions and problems that arise at the interface between rapidly advancing technological developments and the concerns of individuals and communities at genetic risk. The publication provides genetic counselors, other clinicians and health educators, laboratory geneticists, bioethicists, legal scholars, social scientists, and other researchers with a premier resource on genetic counseling topics in national, international, and cross-national contexts.