Difficulties in providing genetic consultations by public health nurses in Japan

AbstractObjectiveThe objectives of this study were to identify the topics that Japanese public health nurses (PHNs) find difficult during genetic consultations and to identify the relationships between these difficulties and PHNs’ genetic education.MethodsWe conducted a mail survey delivered to PHNs employed by local Japanese governmental agencies in the Tokyo metropolitan area, between July and October 2015. The self‐administered questionnaire queried the (1) experience with genetic consultation, (2) perceived difficulties in genetic consultation, (3) genetics education background, and (4) demographics. The association between the perceived difficulties in genetic consultations and the genetics education opportunities was examined using logistic regression.ResultsOf the 907 mailed surveys, 536 PHNs responded (59.1% response rate). Most of the respondents (89.7%) had previously conducted genetic consultations. The majority of respondents (72.7%) had partaken in consultations regarding a possible hereditary disorder in the client or their families, and of those, 76.6% perceived difficulties during the genetic consultation. Respondents who had previously studied decision‐making suppo