Evaluation of the efficacy of two models of delivering information about treatment-focused genetic testing among young women newly diagnosed with breast cancer — ASN Events
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  3. Evaluation of the efficacy of two models of delivering information about treatment-focused genetic testing among young women newly diagnosed with breast cancer

Evaluation of the efficacy of two models of delivering information about treatment-focused genetic testing among young women newly diagnosed with breast cancer (#527)

Belinda Rahman 1 2 , Bettina Meiser 1 2 , Kaaren Watts 1 2 , Margaret Gleeson 3 , Christobel Saunders 4 , Gillian Mitchell 5 , Kristine Barlow-Stewart 6 , Judy Kirk 7 , Kathy Tucker 1
  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  2. Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. Hunter Genetics, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
  4. Department of Surgery, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
  5. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  6. Centre for Genetics Education, Sydney, NSW, 2031
  7. Westmead Institute for Cancer Research, University of Sydney at Westmead Millennium Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Background: Increasingly, women newly diagnosed with breast cancer with a relevant cancer family history or other high risk features are being offered genetic testing to guide their treatment (Treatment-Focused Genetic Testing ‘TFGT’). In this randomised controlled trial, we evaluate two ways of offering information about genetic testing to young women at diagnosis.

Methods: Women (<50 years) at diagnosis before definitive breast cancer surgery, with either suggestive cancer family history or other high risk features, are invited to participate by their surgeon. After completion of a baseline questionnaire, participants are randomised to receive information about TFGT either: a) in educational materials (Intervention) or, b) in a face-to-face genetic counselling consultation (Control). Free rapid genetic testing is offered; results are disclosed at a face-to-face genetic counselling consultation. Self-report questionnaires assess demographic information, decisional uncertainty about TFGT, surgical and psychosocial outcomes. The second questionnaire is administered after the intervention; the third questionnaire is completed 2 weeks after results disclosure, and the fourth questionnaire is completed 12 months from date of study enrolment.

Results: Preliminary results for change in decisional conflict are reported for 62 women who completed the first and second questionnaires, all of whom opted for TFGT. Decisional conflict (DC) decreased following receipt of information about TFGT, with no difference in mean change between the two groups (Intervention N=33, M = -13.8, SD = 20.7; Control N=29, M = -17.6, SD = 25.8), t60 = 0.642, p = .523.

Conclusions: These early data suggest that both modes of delivering information about genetic testing to women at breast cancer diagnosis are equally effective.