Researchers in Australia are surveying medical students in the country to gauge their knowledge of and comfort with genomics, the Australian reports.
The group Australian Genomics, which works to bring genomic medicine into healthcare in Australia, is spearheading the survey, and it aims to assess what students have learned about genomics, both in school and the clinic. According to the Australian, the survey also inquires about their clinical experiences touching on genomics, including the ordering of tests.
"This is a high-paced field," the University of Queensland's Andrew Mallett, the survey's principal investigator, tells the Australian. "It's changing rapidly as genomics is integrating into the healthcare sector."
The paper adds that a similar survey in the US found medical students to be interested in genomic and personalized medicine, but few said their training had prepared them for practicing it.