Genetic Testing and Counseling in Metabolic Liver Disease: An Interactive Lecture for Medical Students

Abstract

Introduction Medical students have limited opportunities to learn about current genetic testing. This session provided exposure to different types of testing and the complex issues that physicians may encounter when counseling patients on proper testing and interpreting results.

Methods We designed a 1-hour interactive lecture for second-year medical students. We presented an overview of the topic, then applied the concepts to specific disorders and cases. Students were asked to answer questions regarding cases using an audience response system, and we used their responses as the basis for our in-class discussion. This session has been held twice, with 25 students attending in 2018 and 31 students in 2019. The session was also recorded so that additional students not in attendance could watch, and was available to 151 students in 2018 and 333 students in 2019.

Results Students answered questions via audience response system. There was a range of 47%–100% of students giving the correct answers in 2018, and 55%–93% in 2019. Exam questions covering genetic counseling issues were answered correctly by 66% and 77% of students in 2018, and 70% and 68% of students in 2019.

Discussion This session provided an opportunity for medical students to be exposed to some of the complex ethical and psychosocial issues that may arise with genetic testing for liver disease and to consider how to navigate them. Using an audience response system during the lecture made the session more interactive and allowed the teacher to correct errors and teach based on the responses.