Abstract
The objective of this pilot study was to characterize healthcare professionals’ knowledge of advanced paternal age (APA), the associated risks, as well as current clinical practices regarding APA. Our study utilized an online survey that questioned providers who see children with genetic conditions and patients who are or may become pregnant regarding demographic information, APA knowledge, APA guideline familiarity, and their clinical practices. A total of 67 providers responded to the survey. We had responses from 54 physician participants in the specialties of medical genetics (GEN), maternal fetal medicine (MFM), and obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN). OBGYN, but not MFM, reported significantly lower agreement that current data supports an association between APA and certain genetic diseases compared to GEN. Furthermore, OBGYN were less likely to identify established risks associated with APA and more likely to incorrectly identify unestablished risks compared to GEN and MFM. Regardless of specialty, the majority of physicians were unfamiliar with the most recently published APA guidelines. This study revealed a desire for more information regarding APA risks and management among our participants. Our data suggest that GEN, MFM, and OBGYN would benefit from updated and more visible guidelines regarding APA. Additionally, OBGYN consistently showed knowledge gaps and misconceptions regarding the risks of APA. Targeted educational or guidance materials regarding APA may also be beneficial for OBGYNs.
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Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author (LW, leahweth@iu.edu) upon reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Dr. David Haas for his assistance in disseminating the electronic survey to the Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. We also thank the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics at the Indiana University School of Medicine for providing monetary funds and coordination of gift card purchases.
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Gift cards were purchased by the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and data collection was performed by Joseph Biddle. Data analyses were performed by Joseph Biddle and Leah Wetherill. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Joseph Biddle, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of Indiana University and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all respondents for being included in the study.
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Biddle, J.F., Wetherill, L., Geddes, G.C. et al. OBGYN providers’ lack of knowledge and management of genetic risks due to advanced paternal age underscore the need for updated practice guidance. J Community Genet 13, 427–433 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12687-022-00595-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12687-022-00595-y