Education of Latvian medical students in DNA testing
The recent progress in molecular genetics has made DNA-based assays an important area of patient care. Although DNA tests have a high impact on the clinical decision-making, and the number of tests performed in Latvia is relatively high (19), however, percentage of analyzed individuals from those with indications until recently remained low. One of the most serious obstacles for patients access to DNA testing is a lack of appropriate education in DNA techniques for physicians. The purpose of the presentation is to discuss the place of the topics on DNA diagnosis in the education of medical students. From 1995, in Riga Stradins University, besides basic course in Medical Biology, covering main principles of human biology, there exists a 22 lecture hours and 32 laboratory hours course in Medical Genetics for undergraduate medical students. This course highlights also several topics of molecular genetics such as methodology of DNA diagnosis, main indications for DNA testing and screening. In 1999 an optional course in DNA technologies has been developed (10 lectures and 10 laboratory hours) giving skills in DNA isolation and analysis. Since 2003 there is also a short 8 hours course for all the medical students in Clinical Genetics. Questions of DNA testing are also included in the 5-15 hours courses in medical genetics to postgraduates, general practitioners, paediatricians and obstetricians/gynaecologists. Among the goals of all the mentioned courses is to educate physicians when and how to make appropriate referrals for DNA diagnosis, and also how correctly evaluate the results of DNA testing. An intensive training of students and physicians in Medical Genetics has led to significantly increased number of patients referred to genetic counselling with subsequent DNA testing (59 in 1998, 120 in 2000, 410 in 2005).Conclusion: curricula for all medical students besides a wide range of medical genetic aspects should include also the questions of DNA testing.