Larisa Baumanis
Capstone Project Committee: Nancy Callanan, MS, CGC, James Evans, MD, PhD, Sat Gupta, PhD (Statistical Consultant), Lisa Susswein, MS, CGC
Introduction: The original model for breast cancer genetic counseling involved three clinic visits: a pretest visit for counseling, a blood draw visit, and a results session. Increasingly, clinics are departing from the traditional model and are providing cancer genetic test results by telephone.. The few studies on telephone counseling provide conflicting results about its desirability and efficacy. The current study aims to (1) Gather preliminary data regarding U.S. prevalence of providing BRCA1/2 mutation test results by phone as well as (2) Ascertain patient satisfaction of results delivered by telephone versus results delivered in person.
Methods: The study consists of two parts. (1) A survey was sent electronically to all members of the Cancer Special Interest Group on the National Society of Genetic Counselor’s list-serve (n=~475) to ascertain how many counselors are participating in BRCA1/2 telephone results delivery. (2) Patients seen by the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Cancer Genetics Clinic were mailed a survey designed to ascertain their satisfaction with their mode of results delivery.
Results indicate the majority of counselors (92.5%) have delivered BRCA1/2 genetic test results by telephone under some circumstance. Most counselors (63.9%) report delivering results by telephone to <25% of their patient population. Patients were equally satisfied with their results session regardless of mode of delivery (phone v. in person). Patients given a choice regarding mode of results delivery reported significantly higher satisfaction with results delivery than those who did not have a choice.