Attributes of respondents and their practices (n=397)
| Attribute | Frequency (%) |
|---|---|
| *At least one of DRCOG, DCH, MRCGP, MRCP. | |
| †Self-reported. | |
| ‡The variable is dichotomous: more/as or less confident at explaining prenatal diagnosis to a couple at risk of having a child with cystic fibrosis or thalassaemia compared to explaining prenatal diagnosis to a couple at risk of having a child with Down’s syndrome. | |
| §Ability correctly to assess a low risk breast cancer pedigree (two first degree relatives on opposite sides of the family with post-menopausal breast cancer). | |
| ¶More/as or less confident at explaining breast cancer risk than explaining the risk of the combined oral contraception. | |
| **Cronbach’s alpha of 0.69; dichotomised by it’s median value (range 0.17–1.00, median 0.56, mean 0.56; more positive attitude=0.57–1.00, more negative attitude=0.17–0.56). | |
| General practitioner/practice characteristics | |
| Male | 246 (62.4) |
| Less than 50 years of age | 308 (77.6) |
| Possession of higher qualifications* | 285 (71.8) |
| Adequate undergraduate genetics teaching† | 142 (35.8) |
| Adequate postgraduate genetics teaching† | 68 (17.1) |
| Rural practice | 61 (15.4) |
| Single handed practice | 30 (7.6) |
| Clinical assistant at hospital | 63 (15.9) |
| GP postgraduate tutor | 85 (21.4) |
| Undergraduate tutor | 51 (12.9) |
| Attitudes towards case scenarios | |
| Confident with prenatal genetics‡ | 155 (39.0) |
| Competent in breast cancer genetics§ | 41 (10.3) |
| Confident with breast cancer genetics¶ | 146 (36.8) |
| Positive attitude to providing a primary care based breast cancer genetics service** | 180 (45.3) |