Abstract
Objective(s): To determine level of knowledge and attitudes of health care providers (HCP) regarding premarital screening and genetic counseling (PMSGC), to identify the predictors of high knowledge score and to verify their satisfaction with and recommendations for improving the program
Design: Cross-sectional study conducted during the January 2010 - January 2011 period
Setting: Outpatient clinics of three governmental hospitals in Jeddah
Subjects: Three hundred and forty-five HCP
Intervention(s): A self-administered questionnaire containing personal and socio-demographic data, 30 PMSGC knowledge items, and 14 attitude statements were used. HCP working in the program were asked about their satisfaction and recommendations for improvement.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Knowledge, attitudes and satisfaction of the HCP Results: About one-half (51.6%) of the health care providers had satisfactory knowledge about PMSGC. After controlling for the confounding factors, the only predictor of satisfactory knowledge score was being a specialized provider (aOR = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.63 - 5.02). Regarding attitudes, almost all participants (99%) strongly agreed and agreed on the importance of the PMSGC program. Concerning satisfaction, half of HCP working in the program had excellent or very good scores for program confidentiality and higher percentages for counseling about discovered diseases.
Conclusions: HCP had good attitudes towards PMSGC program. However, there is some lack of knowledge. They recommended adding vaccinations, new screening and counseling to the current program. Formal training course(s) for HCP about the program were recommended.