A study to
assess knowledge of nurses on genetics in selected urban & rural
hospitals in Tamil Nadu.
One
of the first questions we ask when a baby is born is who does he or
she look like? But it is not just the colour of our eyes or the shape
of the nose that we inherit from our parents. We have more than 30,000
genes each in our DNA and every single one has an effect on the way
our bodies work including our susceptibility to illness. Our genetic
understanding is about to be taken to another level with the completion
of the Human Genetic Project (HGP), which first maps the entire human
genome. It will pave the way for a revolution in health care.
Jagalian has predicted that by 2010 to 2020, “genetherapy”
will become a common treatment for a select set of conditions. By
2020, customized drugs will target the molecular basis of common illnesses.
By 2050, numerous potential diseases will be cured at the molecular
level before they arise. In fact, in future comprehensive genomic
– based health care will be the norm in India and western countries
and the average life span will reach 90 to 95 years.
Application of genetic discovers in clinical heath care will require
that advanced practice nurses are prepared to discuss genetic information
with their patients and their families. Knowledgeable nurses are needed
to be part of the inter-disciplinary effort to incorporate new genetic
knowledge into all aspects of health care.
