The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49443

Terri Creeden, MS, MPH, CGC¹, Sharon Durfy, PhD², Marion Greenup, MEd, MPH¹, Robert Fineman, MD, PhD³, Nancy White⁴, and Fredericka Wolman, MD, MPH¹. (1) Education and Health Promotion, March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10605, (2) Illuminata, Inc., 726 North 68th St., Seattle, WA 98103, (3) Robert Fineman Associates, 6266 Lake Shore Drive South, Seattle, WA 98118, (4) Full Circle Associates, 7009 23rd Avenue Northeast, Seattle, WA 98115

With funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the March of Dimes is developing an interactive online genetics information resource and continuing education program. This innovative resource will provide tools and guidance for health care and social service professionals to assist them in integrating genetics into their patient services. This project will provide a practical, resource-oriented web site to serve as a companion to existing March of Dimes genetic education curricula. The web site will be designed for professionals working in the primary care setting and will be customized for professionals working with the following patient types: preconception/prenatal, infants/children, and adolescents/adults. Online tools specific to these patient populations will include online links, downloadable elements and hand-held applications. There will be educational and process-oriented modules on family health and social histories, referrals to genetic services, genetic screening and testing, communicating with patients on genetic issues, and clinical genetics research. Users will be able to obtain continuing education credits online through interactive case studies, as well as information on other March of Dimes genetics education programs such as the Genetics & Your Practice lecture series and Genetics & Your Practice CD-ROM. A needs assessment was performed involving online research, recommendations from professional organizations, expert interviews, an extensive literature review, surveys of health professionals, and a review of current genetics education programs. Thorough process and outcome evaluations are planned, and the web site will be launched in the Fall of 2002.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) will be able to

• Recognize the importance of integrating genetic information into primary care.
• Describe the process- and resource-oriented genetics education website created by the March of Dimes for primary care professionals.
• Locate the educational website for use by those in the target audience.

Keywords: Education, Genetics

Related Web page: www.modimes.org/programs2/ProfEd/gyp_online.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.