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Purpose: Recent advances in genetics can facilitate the identification of at-risk individuals and diagnosis of cardiovascular disorders. As a nascent field, more research is needed to optimize the clinical practice of cardiovascular genetics, including the assessment of educational needs to promote appropriate use of genetic testing., Methods: Qualitative interviews conducted with cardiovascular specialists (N = 43) were audiotaped. Thematic analysis was conducted on professional transcripts., Results: Participants recognized the value of genetics in identifying and diagnosing at-risk individuals. However, organizational systems, cost, and feeling of unpreparedness were identified as barriers. Participants felt that the rapid pace of genetic science resulted in further challenges to maintaining an adequate knowledge base and highlighted genetics experts' importance. Even when a genetics expert was available, participants wanted to know more about which patients benefit most from genetic testing and expressed a desire to better understand management recommendations associated with a positive test result., Conclusion: Participants recognized the benefit but felt underprepared to provide recommendations for genetic testing and, in some cases, lacked organizational resources to refer patients to a genetics expert. Additional training in genetics for cardiology practitioners and ensuring availability of a genetics expert can improve the use of genetics in cardiology settings., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Courtney L. Scherr, Laura J. Rasmussen-Torvik, Maureen E. Smith, Lisa M. Dellefave-Castillo, and Elizabeth M. McNally’s work has been funded by the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health. The funders played no role in the design of the study or in interpretation of findings. Courtney L. Scherr, Maureen E. Smith, and Laura J. Rasmussen-Torvik have received compensation from National Institutes of Health grant review panels. Maureen E. Smith has received compensation from the Journal of Genetic Counseling as a section editor and funding from Geisinger Heath System as a grant consultant. Sanjana Ramesh is a consultant for the digital health startup, Renalis, and owns stock in the company. Elizabeth M. McNally has consulted for AstraZeneca, Avidity Biosciences, Amgen Inc, Cytokinetics, 4D Molecular Therapeutics, Janssen, Pfizer Inc, PepGen Inc, Stealth BioTherapeutics Inc, Tenaya, and Invitae Corporation and is the founder of Ikaika Therapeutics, LLC. All the aforementioned activities are unrelated to the content of this manuscript. Kerstin Kalke and Hoda Fakhari declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background Educating cardiologists and health care professionals about cardiovascular genetics and genetic testing is essential to improving diagnosis and management of patients with inherited cardiomyopathies and arrhythmias and those at higher risk for sudden cardiac death. The aim of this study was to understand cardiology and electrophysiology practitioners' current practices, confidence, and knowledge surrounding genetic testing in cardiology and desired topics for an educational program. Methods and Results A one-time survey was administered through purposive email solicitation to 131 cardiology practitioners in the United States. Of these, 107 self-identified as nongenetic practitioners. Over three quarters of nongenetic practitioners reported that they refer patients to genetic providers to discuss cardiovascular genetic tests (n=82; 76.6%). More than half of nongenetic practitioners reported that they were not confident about the types of cardiovascular genetic testing available (n=60; 56%) and/or in ordering appropriate cardiovascular genetic tests (n=66; 62%). In addition, 45% (n=22) of nongenetic practitioners did not feel confident making cardiology treatment recommendations based on genetic test results. Among all providers, the most desired topics for an educational program were risk assessment (94%) and management of inherited cardiac conditions based on guidelines (91%). Conclusions This study emphasizes the importance of access to genetics services in the cardiology field and the need for addressing the identified deficit in confidence and knowledge about cardiogenetics and genetic testing among nongenetic providers. Additional research is needed, including more practitioners from underserved areas.