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A Study of the Communication of Genetic Test Results By Telephone: A Multi-Center Study

Completed
Conditions
Candidates for BRCA 1/2 Genetic Testing
Interventions
Genetic: Genetic Providers
Other: Visual Aids
Other: Post-Disclosure Asessments
Other: In-person Clinical Follow-Up
Other: 6 Month and 12 Month Assessments
Registration Number
NCT01736345
Lead Sponsor
Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine
Brief Summary

The overall goal of the proposed research is to evaluate psychosocial and behavioral outcomes (i.e.risks and benefits) of an innovative and efficient delivery model for genetic testing, telephone communication, as an alternative to in-person communication of genetic testing results to inform guidelines regarding the delivery of genetic information in clinical medicine.

Detailed Description

Basic science advances in genomics have provided great promise for improving human health and reducing the burden of cancer in the United States. The recent successes in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and related technologies in identifying genetic changes associated with a variety of common diseases have fueled the rapidly growing field of personalized medicine. The promise of personalized medicine is the ability to tailor the treatment or screening of individual patients based on their genotype. Many have highlighted the urgent need for multidisciplinary translational research that focuses on how to advance gene discoveries into effective clinical applications. Genetic screening for cancer susceptibility, one application of personalized medicine, has become a standard evidence-based practice in cancer prevention. Given the complexity of genetic information and the potential social and psychological sequellae, two in-person visits (e.g. pre-test and post-test counseling) with genetic specialists are recommended for delivery of genetic testing for cancer susceptibility. With an increasing demand for genetic services, the two in-person visit delivery model presents barriers to widespread dissemination of genetic testing for disease susceptibility. Innovative delivery models for effective, efficient genetic risk communication that result in behavior change are needed. Telephone delivery of genetic services is one innovative and efficient delivery model that has the potential to expand genetic services to diverse clinical systems and address the insufficient genetic workforce as an increasing number of genetic applications enter clinical practice. While providers and patients identify advantages to telephone delivery of genetic services, they also recognize potential disadvantages particularly in the setting of a positive test result. Thus, evaluation of the psychosocial and behavioral impact of innovations to genetic service delivery (i.e. telephone communication) in diverse populations and among vulnerable subgroups are needed to optimize the health benefits, and minimize the risks of broad dissemination of clinical genetic testing for cancer susceptibility.

The goal of this research is to evaluate the psychological, behavioral and economic outcomes (i.e. risks and benefits) of an innovative and efficient delivery model of genetic services, telephone communication, as compared to the current standard, in-person communication of genetic test results. The investigators expect this research to inform evidence based practice guidelines and potentially change the paradigm of delivery of genetic services for disease susceptibility.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
289
Inclusion Criteria
  • Engligh speaking Male or Female Completed in person pretest counseling Decided to have blood drawn for clinical BRCA 1/2 Age 18 or older
Exclusion Criteria

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
In Person DisclosureVisual AidsIndividuals opting out of randomization but still willing to participate in the research will be placed in the self-select in-person arm.
Telephone DisclosureGenetic ProvidersTelephone Disclosure: Participants randomized to telephone disclosure will be asked to provide a personal identifier that the participant will be asked at the time of their telephone disclosure to ensure their identity.
In Person DisclosurePost-Disclosure AsessmentsIndividuals opting out of randomization but still willing to participate in the research will be placed in the self-select in-person arm.
In Person DisclosureIn-person Clinical Follow-UpIndividuals opting out of randomization but still willing to participate in the research will be placed in the self-select in-person arm.
Telephone DisclosurePost-Disclosure AsessmentsTelephone Disclosure: Participants randomized to telephone disclosure will be asked to provide a personal identifier that the participant will be asked at the time of their telephone disclosure to ensure their identity.
Telephone Disclosure6 Month and 12 Month AssessmentsTelephone Disclosure: Participants randomized to telephone disclosure will be asked to provide a personal identifier that the participant will be asked at the time of their telephone disclosure to ensure their identity.
In Person DisclosureGenetic ProvidersIndividuals opting out of randomization but still willing to participate in the research will be placed in the self-select in-person arm.
Telephone DisclosureVisual AidsTelephone Disclosure: Participants randomized to telephone disclosure will be asked to provide a personal identifier that the participant will be asked at the time of their telephone disclosure to ensure their identity.
In Person Disclosure6 Month and 12 Month AssessmentsIndividuals opting out of randomization but still willing to participate in the research will be placed in the self-select in-person arm.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of telephone surveys completed3 years
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (5)

The John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County

🇺🇸

Chicago, Illinois, United States

The Fox Chase Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania

🇺🇸

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper

🇺🇸

Camden, New Jersey, United States

The University of Chicago

🇺🇸

Chicago, Illinois, United States

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