Helen Wright|Lin Zhao|Melanie Birks|Jane Mills
Genomic Literacy of Registered Nurses and Midwives in Australia: A Cross?Sectional Survey
James Cook University|RMIT University|James Cook University|James Cook University
abstract purpose registered nurses midwives require degree genomic literacy adequately communicate healthcare professionals provide optimal care patients families community several studies conducted internationally assess genomic literacy nurses however genomic literacy australian registered nurses midwives investigated aim study measure genomic literacy australian registered nurses midwives assessing participants understandings genomic concepts critical nursing midwifery practice well perceived knowledge attitude towards genomics nursing midwifery practice design crosssectional survey australian registered nurses midwives using genomic nursing concept inventory gnci 31 multiplechoice question survey instrument participants recruited via two key australian nursing midwifery organizations 8month period 2016 methods descriptive inferential statistical techniques used calculate total gnci score scores individual subcategories well relationships demographic variables gnci scores findings respondents worked clinicians 714 hospital hospitalbased setting 618 registered nurses 805 midwives 972 reported genetics relevant clinical practice however 80 registered nurses midwives believed knowledge genetics poor average genomic knowledge assessed using gnci scores ranged 3 29 possible 31 mean score 133 sd 4559 based 253 n 253 respondents indicating genomic literacy low significant difference genomic knowledge scores education training level p 036 conclusions genomic literacy registered nurses midwives australia low must done ensure australian registered nurses midwives adequate level genomic literacy provide optimal care patients families community clinical relevance modern medicine requires healthcare workforce literate genomics findings study may serve catalyst improve genomic literacy australian nursing midwifery workforce allowing improved health outcomes individuals wider australian public