In the near future, professionals at all levels of health services, including primary health care, will need to be able to inform patients clearly and correctly about the health implications of many different DNA variants. This growing need presents a major information challenge for health systems. We propose that the challenge can be met by bringing together bioinformatics (supporting genetics) and health informatics (supporting clinical services and public health), into a new area of clinical and applied bioinformatics supporting community genetics. We are currently investigating the approach using the model of screening for haemoglobin disorders (see www.chime.ucl.ac.uk/APoGI/).

Keywords:
Genetic screening, Informatics, Primary care, Haemoglobin disorders
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© 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel
2001
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