Prenatal Genomics —
Training activity: 9

Details

Participate in multidisciplinary discussions of genetic findings in a prenatal setting

Type

Developmental training activity (DTA)

Evidence requirements

Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee​.

Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.

An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.

Reflective practice guidance

The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.

Before action

• Do you have a comprehensive understanding of the specific cases scheduled for the MDT meeting, including the clinical presentation, the genomic findings, and the potential implications for the pregnancy and family?
• How aware are you of the distinct roles and responsibilities of other MDT members—such as obstetricians, genetic counsellors, and sonographers—and how their professional perspectives might influence their interpretation of the genomic data?
• Have you thoroughly reviewed the case details prior to the meeting, including the specific referral reasons, relevant clinical history, and all genomic test results?
• What are the key questions that need to be addressed for each case, and what specific genomic information have you identified as being most helpful to the clinical management decisions of other team members?
• Have you discussed the cases with your training officer beforehand to ensure you fully understand the clinical context and have identified the most relevant potential discussion points?
• How have you planned to contribute meaningfully to the MDT discussion, and what steps will you take to ensure your input is clear, concise, and relevant to the unfolding clinical context?

In action

• How are you currently contributing to the multidisciplinary discussion? What specific information or perspectives are you offering regarding the genetic findings of the prenatal case being discussed?
• What decisions are you making right now as the discussion progresses? For instance, how are you deciding when to interject with relevant information or ask clarifying questions? How are you tailoring your communication to the different professionals involved (e.g., clinicians, genetic counsellors, other laboratory staff)?
• How effectively are you communicating the key genetic findings and their potential implications to the other members of the multidisciplinary team?
• What challenges are you encountering in this moment, such as understanding the clinical context being discussed, articulating complex genetic concepts clearly, or navigating differing opinions?
• What are you learning from the contributions of other team members as the discussion unfolds? Are there clinical or counselling aspects you hadn’t considered? Are there alternative interpretations of the genetic data?
• If you realise you haven’t understood a clinical point, would you ask for clarification? If there is a disagreement on the interpretation of the genetic findings, how would you present your perspective while respecting others’ views?
• What immediate adjustments might you need to make to your communication style or the information you are sharing based on the flow of the discussion and the contributions of others?
• Are you ensuring that your contributions are focused, relevant to the case, and contribute to the overall goal of providing the best possible care and information to the patient and family?

On action

• Begin by summarising the key genetic findings that were discussed in the multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting(s) you participated in.
  • What were the different perspectives and contributions of the various team members?
  • What were the key challenges or points of discussion during the meeting(s)?
  • How effectively were the genetic findings communicated and understood by the wider team?
• What skills or knowledge did you develop or improve in participating in MDT discussions related to prenatal genetic findings?
  • What did you learn about the roles and perspectives of other healthcare professionals (e.g., obstetricians, genetic counsellors)?
  • Were there any unexpected challenges or successes during the activity?
  • What did you learn from these, such as effectively contributing your genomic expertise or understanding the clinical implications of genetic results?
• What areas for continued development have been identified as a result of this activity, such as improving your communication of complex genetic information to non-genetics specialists or understanding the clinical decision-making process?
  • How can you apply the learning from this activity to your future participation in MDT meetings?
  • Identify the next steps you will now take to support the assimilation of what you have learned, such as reflecting on the communication styles of different team members or researching the clinical pathways for specific prenatal genetic findings.
  • What support or resources might you need to further develop in the areas identified through this reflection, such as opportunities to observe more MDT meetings or receive feedback on your communication skills?

Beyond action

• Have you revisited your experiences of participating in multidisciplinary discussions of prenatal genetic findings? Consider how your understanding of the roles and perspectives of different healthcare professionals in the prenatal setting has evolved since these discussions.
• Reflect on your initial contributions to these multidisciplinary discussions s. How has your confidence in articulating genetic findings and their implications within a multidisciplinary team grown?
• Review your reflections on this training activity as part of your module review. What key insights did you gain about effective communication and collaboration within an MDT?
• Have you received feedback on your participation in subsequent multidisciplinary discussions s that has helped you to improve your contributions?
• Recognise how participating in multidisciplinary discussions has enhanced your ability to understand the broader clinical context of prenatal genetic findings and contribute effectively to patient management decisions. How has your appreciation for the ethical and legal dimensions discussed in these forums developed?
• How have you applied the communication and collaboration skills learned in these multidisciplinary discussions s to your routine interactions with other healthcare professionals involved in prenatal care?
• Outline specific actions for continued development in your participation in multidisciplinary discussions s, such as actively seeking opportunities to contribute your expertise and learning from the perspectives of other team members.

Relevant learning outcomes

#	Outcome
# 1	Outcome Apply appropriate testing strategies to patients referred for increased screening risk.
# 2	Outcome Apply appropriate testing strategies to patients referred following abnormal ultrasound scan findings.
# 3	Outcome Apply appropriate testing strategies to patients with a family history of a genetic disorder.
# 4	Outcome Interpret chromosomal rearrangements, including implications for recurrence risk and future testing.
# 5	Outcome Interpret genomic variants, including copy number changes and investigate the clinical significance of variants using bioinformatic tools using best practice guidelines.
# 6	Outcome Interpret and report prenatal genomic findings, including appropriate recommendations for patient management.