Current State of Compulsory Basic and Clinical Courses in Genetics for Medical Students at Medical Faculties in Balkan Countries With Slavic Languages

Nina Pereza; Rifet Terzić; Dijana Plaseska-Karanfilska; Olivera Miljanović; Ivana Novaković; Željka Poslon; Saša Ostojić; Borut Peterlin

doi:10.3389/fgene.2021.793834

Current State of Compulsory Basic and Clinical Courses in Genetics for Medical Students at Medical Faculties in Balkan Countries With Slavic Languages

Front Genet. 2022 Jan 10:12:793834. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2021.793834. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Nina Pereza^{1

2}, Rifet Terzić³, Dijana Plaseska-Karanfilska⁴, Olivera Miljanović^{5

6}, Ivana Novaković⁷, Željka Poslon^{1

2}, Saša Ostojić^{1

2}, Borut Peterlin⁸

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Genetic Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
² Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
³ Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
⁴ Research Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology "Georgi D. Efremov", Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Skopje, North Macedonia.
⁵ Center for Medical Genetic and Immunology, Clinical Center of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro.
⁶ Clinical Center of Montenegro, Medical Faculty, University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro.
⁷ Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
⁸ Clinical Institute of Genomic Medicine, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Abstract

Introduction: In this study we aimed to perform the first research on the current state of compulsory basic and clinical courses in genetics for medical students offered at medical faculties in six Balkan countries with Slavic languages (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia). Materials and Methods: The study was conducted from June to September 2021. One representative from each country was invited to collect and interpret the data for all medical faculties in their respective country. All representatives filled a questionnaire, which consisted of two sets of questions. The first set of questions was factual and contained specific questions about medical faculties and design of compulsory courses, whereas the second set of questions was more subjective and inquired the opinion of the representatives about mandatory education in clinical medical genetics in their countries and internationally. In addition, full course syllabi were analysed for course aims, learning outcomes, course content, methods for student evaluation and literature. Results: Detailed analysis was performed for a total of 22 medical faculties in Bosnia and Herzegovina (6), Croatia (4), Montenegro (1), North Macedonia (3), Serbia (6), and Slovenia (2). All but the two medical faculties in Slovenia offer either compulsory courses in basic education in human genetics (16 faculties/courses) or clinical education in medical genetics (3 faculties/courses). On the other hand, only the medical faculty in Montenegro offers both types of education, including one course in basic education in human genetics and one in clinical education in medical genetics. Most of the basic courses in human genetics have similar aims, learning outcomes and content. Conversely, clinical courses in medical genetics are similar concerning study year position, number of contact hours, ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) and contents, but vary considerably regarding aims, learning outcomes, ratio of types of classes, teaching methods and student evaluation. Conclusion: Our results emphasise the need for future collaboration in reaching a consensus on medical genetics education in Balkan countries with Slavic languages. Further research warrants the analysis of performance of basic courses, as well as introducing clinical courses in medical genetics to higher years of study across Balkan countries.

Keywords: compulsory course; genetic education; genomic medicine; human genetics; medical education; medical faculty; medical genetics; medical students.