HEE releases course to support clinicians consenting patients for 100,000 Genomes Project
New course supports work of NHS England Genomic Medicine Centres
As the first participants are formally recruited into the 100,000 Genomes Project, Health Education England’s Genomics Education Programme (GEP) has released an online training course to support the range of healthcare professionals who will be seeking consent from individuals to take part.
The course ‘100,000 Genomes Project: Preparing for the consent conversation’ helps healthcare professionals to understand and undertake the required process for consenting eligible participants, and highlights approaches that will help to address some of their concerns or questions. The course also covers the key ethical issues and provides best-practice guidance on the consent process.
The 90-minute course is explicitly based around the approved protocol for the 100,000 Genomes Project and combines video clips of a range of scenarios, technical information on the Project’s consent process, and answers to typical patient questions. A series of assessments help professionals to monitor their progress through the course.
By the end of this training course, learners will be able to:
- effectively prepare for the patient-clinician conversation;
- identify the needs of potential participants to enable them to engage in the consent process;
- confidently discuss the details of the Project with potential participants;
- address possible concerns or questions about the joining the Project and the possible consequences for them and their family; and
- recognise when they are equipped with the knowledge they need to make an informed decision.
The course is the latest in a series of materials produced by the GEP to support the introduction of genomic technologies into the NHS, particularly related to the needs of the 100,000 Genomes Project. To find out more about the Genomics Education Programme, visit About the Programme.
