• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.50-54
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• 2014

It is becoming increasingly important for medical doctors to have a thorough understanding of human genetics and the ethical, legal, and social implications of genetic testing, counseling, and treatment. As genetic engineering and technology evolves, medical doctors will find themselves called in to counsel patients about a rapidly increasing number of diseases for which genetic testing and treatments are available. Medical doctors will need to master a new set of principles and clinical skills. A lack of knowledge about these issues and problems may lead to serious, lifelong or even fatal negative effects on patients. Medical genetics has moved from the study of rare conditions to the illumination of disorders that impact the entire spectrum of medical practice. This study demonstrates several areas in which medical genetics is clearly an important tool in medical practice and the necessity of establishing new curriculum for clinical genetic education in Korea. Medical students nearing graduation may lack genetic knowledge that is essential for daily practice because genetics has little or no place in clinical teaching. Medical schools should make extensive curriculum changes to increase students' awareness of clinical genetics and its ethical implications. The medical school curriculum will need creative new approaches to keeping up with the rapid pace of evolution of clinical genetics.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.103-111
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was undertaken to establish the framework for development of the curriculum of genetics in Nursing Education. Methods: The Internet search, literature review of the US system of genetic nurses, genetic graduate nursing education programs and curricula for nurse in Korea were reviewed and analyzed. Results: American Nurses genetic system consists of APNG and the GCS and all the APNG credential provided by the GNCC of ISONG. The curriculums of genetic nursing education in the US are mainly conducted in of master's program and genetically related subjects consists of basic genetics subjects, basic applied genetics subjects, genetics in nursing subjects and practical training subjects. Lastly a genetic nursing education program in Korea 44 hr of lectures and practical training of 4 hr is composed of basic genetics, genetic cancer, genetics in nursing and practicum in the computer lab and online include family history assessment, pedigree construction, breast and colorectal cancer risk calculations, and ELSI discussions. Conclusion: This study suggested that genetic nursing education course needs in master's program as detailed subjects. Also the establishment of the genetic nurse system is an urgent needed.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.69-79
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive, cross-sectional study was to examine Korean undergraduate nursing students' perceived knowledge and attitudes toward genetics. Nursing competencies for genetics among nursing students were also assessed. Methods: Two hundred eighty-six Korean junior and senior undergraduate nursing students who went through their clinical practicum completed a packet of self-report questionnaires exploring opinions about the integration of genetics into the nursing curriculum, as well as their perceived knowledge, attitudes, and nursing competencies toward genetics. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA. Results: Overall, Korean undergraduate nursing students reported limited genetic knowledge, but most of them were comfortable with drawing pedigree. In general, nursing students were competent in providing genetic nursing. Their genetic nursing competencies were significantly different depending on the level of general understanding of genetics. There was no significant difference between juniors and seniors regarding knowledge, attitudes, and competencies toward genetics. More than 60% of nursing students reported the need for genetic nursing, and the majority considered lectures to be the most effective method to learn genetic knowledge. Conclusion: It is imperative to integrate genetics into nursing curriculum in order to improve nursing students' genetic nursing competencies as well as genetic knowledge.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyze current educational requirements related to genetics curriculum(from June 2002 to September 2002) established at nursing institutions and to provide the basic data for the development of genetics science program at the undergraduate. Subjects of this study were comprised of twenty-three colleges of nursing in 4-year baccalaureate and thirty colleges in 3-year diploma programs. The results of this study were as follows : 1) 32 colleges offer courses related to genetics. 29 among 32 colleges have that integrated. Three schools have established completely independent courses of genetics. 21 colleges do not have any courses dealing with genetics. 2) The contents of courses related to genetics include: Congenital abnormalities, chromosomal aberrations, congenital metabolic disease, prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling, genes and chromosomes, immune genetics, blood type and genetics, rule of genetics, variation in gene expression, the map of the human gene, gene linkage genetics, interaction of genes, single inheritance in order and genetic biochemistry. 3) For course credit, 14colleges(48.3%) offered at most 1 credit per course. The grade of student who can take the course, 51.7% were in their second year while 37.9% were in their third year. The majors of nursing faculty who taught the course were nursing(51.7%) and basic nursing science(17.2%). 4) As far as the need of opening the courses related to genetics, 36 colleges(67.0%) have made a 'need', 12 schools(22.6%) state 'dose not need'. 711e reason for need were the following development of bio engineering, increase number of patients who are related to genetics, recognition of the need in clinical nursing. 7 schools(13.2%) agreed to offer independent course in genetics but 39 schools(73.6%) are in disagreement with that. When the school offers the course with other courses, 27 schools(50.0%) are opening basic nursing science and 14 schools(26.4%) are opening nursing as an integrated courses. If the name of course was either genetic nursing(34.0%) or genetics(28.3%), the credits for the course was one or 2 credits. 33 schools(62.3%) students were in the first or second years. 41 schools(84.9%), the majors of the faculty who had taught the course were either basic nursing science(35.8%), nursing(28.3%) or basic medicine(24.5%). The contents of the course should include in that order: Chromosome aberrations, prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling, congenital metabolic disease, congenital abnormalities, genes and chromosomes, the rules of genetics, immune genetics, interaction of genes, variation in gene expression, etc. The results and discussions of the study indicate that the entire curriculums need to be investigated with respect to contents of education, nursing curriculums and name of courses because of the increasing need of knowledge related to genetics in the clinical practice.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.142-159
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• 2007

Purpose : This study was undertaken to provide prerequisites for accreditation of medical genetics training program and certification process for medical genetics professionals as clinical specialist and set up guidelines on curriculum of medical genetics training program in Korea. Methods : Six ad hoc committees for clinical geneticist, clinical cytogeneticist, clinical molecular geneticist, clinical biochemical geneticist, medical genetics technologists and genetic counselors were organized for reviewing current status in Korea as well as foreign countries. Each committee is composed of 6-8 members. They summarized their opinions according to the structured questionnaire inquiring the ways of accrediting training program, qualification of program director, trainee requirements, contents of curriculum, duration of training program, certification process, estimation of numbers of each specialist needed in next 5 years in Korea. Results : Both prerequisites for the accreditation of medical geneticist training institutions and qualification of program director are suggested. Candidacy of trainees requires MD with board of medical specialty, or PhD degree with professional experiences in related field except clinical genetics program which only accepts MD with board of medical specialty, and Non-MD genetic counselor and medical technologists with degrees of BS or MS. General duration of fellowship will be 2-3 years depending on the categories they are enrolled into. Contents of curriculum for each speciality training are described. For the certification of each category, the candidacy should submit a log book detailing the cases they experienced during the fellowship, prove that they successfully completed course work and clinical experiences in the accredited program, and pass the written examination. Conclusion : As medical genetics becomes more important in daily routine clinical practice, the accreditation of medical genetics training program and certification of personnel are urgently needed. In this regard, the study will be providing guidelines and prerequisites for accreditation of medical genetics training program and certification process for medical genetics professionals as clinical specialist.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1083-1092
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• 2003

Purpose. The purpose of the study was to assess the level of nurses' genetic knowledge and the perception of nurses' role in genetics. The ultimate goal of this paper is to educate practicing nurses so that they can counsel individuals and families with genetic problems, on the basis of better understanding of genetic diseases. Methods. A total of 969 clinical nurses in 11 general hospitals completed a self-administered questionnaire including basic genetic knowledge and perception of their role. The instruments were made by the author with the help of some experts on genetics. T-test, ANOVA, and Pearson Correlation were used to analyze the data. Results. The results of this study indicated that nurses revealed a vast knowledge deficit in genetics and the need for genetic content in nursing curriculum. The results also showed that nurses' sources of information about genetics largely came from the mass media. The nurses also expressed great interest in educating and counseling patients. Overall, the survey found a positive correlation between the nurses' level of knowledge and their degree of interest in genetics. Conclusion. In conclusion, education and training of clinical nurses in genetics is critical in integrating genetics with nursing science. Therefore, the development of educational programs for nursing knowledge and counseling as well as basic curriculums in genetic nursing at universities are essential in the near future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.963-963
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• 2005

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.93-104
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• 2009

This short review was aimed to provide the information for the people who are interested in genetic counselor education and certification system in Korea. A large part of this study is indebted to HJ Kim's articles on the genetic counselor system, the global standards of genetic counseling curriculums, training program accreditation (TPA), and a certification process for genetic counselors (CPGC) in the US and Japan. The US and Japanese educational systems showed a high degree of similarities in curriculum, accreditation, and certification programs. Based upon this review, we hereby propose that the Korean Society for Medical Genetics should take a key role in providing the TPA and CPGC for non-MD genetic counselors. Requirement for the entrance to a Master's degree genetic counseling program should be open to successful four year undergraduate students for all areas, provided the candidates demonstrate the abilities to master the graduate level study in human genetics, statistics, psychology, and other required subjects. Besides accredited program graduates, eligibility for certification should also include the qualified candidates of genetic counseling with no formally approved education, but with a sufficient amount of clinical experience.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.38-55
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was undertaken to provide the framework for development of a genetic counseling training program, and an accreditation and certification process suitable for non-M.D. genetic counselors in Korea. Materials and Methods: Global standards of genetic counseling curriculums, training program accreditation (TPA), and the certification process for genetic counselors (CPGC) in the U.S.A and Japan were reviewed, and a questionnaire survey was performed to elicit opinions among health-care providers including physicians, nurses, technicians, researchers, and educators. In addition, input from professional communities, including the Korean Society of Medical Genetics (KSMG) and Institute for Genetic Testing Evaluation, was sought in formulating the framework of this study. Results: Comparison of U.S.A. and Japan educational systems showed similarities in curriculum, accreditation, and certification programs. Analysis of 117 respondents opinions showed a high level of agreement in the area of global standards; 88% indicated that KSMG should be in charge of TPA and CPGC, while 77% favored a certification exam composed of both written exam and interview components. Conclusion: Based upon this study we propose that the KSMG should be in charge of providing the TPA and CPGC for non-MD genetic counselors. Requirements for the entrance to a Master's degree genetic counseling program should be open to successful four year undergraduate students in all areas, provided the candidates demonstrate the abilities to master the graduate level of study in human genetics, clinical genetics, statistics, psychology, and other required subjects. Eligibility for certification should include qualified candidates of genetic counseling with no formally approved education, but a sufficient amount of clinical experience, in addition to accredited program graduates. Certification examinations should be carried out every two years and the certification should be good for five years, as is the case in Japan.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.693-711
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• 2009

One of the most important objectives in science education is to develop students' science literacy. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relevance between biology instructional objectives in the 7th curriculum taught in elementary and secondary schools. For this study, 7 major parts in each grade were analyzed including cell, the form and function of plants, the form and function of animals, genetics, diversity, evolution, ecology, and environment. The strand map of instructional objectives is completed that represents the relation between the objectives. The summary of the results from this study is as follows. First, the concept about cells is not fully covered in lower grades including elementary schools. While the concept of energy metabolism is repeatedly covered, there is no concept of energy covered in learning the concept of energy metabolism in elementary schools. Second, the textbooks in elementary and middle schools have main concepts about the form and function of plants while those in high schools don't. The concept related to the part of the form and function of animals is repeatedly involved in the curriculum throughout the elementary, middle, and high schools. Third, the concepts such as genetics and evolution are involved in higher grades since these concepts are abstract ones. The part of genetics and evolution as well as diversity has no connection between grades in schools, so the development of "notion between" is necessary to relate these concepts with each other. Fourth, the 4 parts of diversity, ecology and environment, evolution, and the form and function of plants are covered in limited grade levels. The results of the relevance of gene in lesson goals will play an important rein as the primary material in developing the connection between textbooks in which lesson goals are closely related to each other throughout all grade levels in elementary, middle and high schools.