CN17 - A multimedia method for pre-test genetic counselling in breast cancer patients: A pilot feasibility study

Background

Genetic counselling is integral in managing hereditary breast cancer, yet the traditional face-to-face delivery model is resource-intensive and not always scalable. This pilot study investigates the feasibility and patients’ satisfaction of a novel multimedia method for pre-test genetic counselling.

Methods

In this pilot study, 20 breast cancer patients received intervention of multimedia-based genetic counselling. A mobile application featuring educational videos, discussion forum and a chat room was developed as the intervention. We measured the outcomes including genetic test uptake rate, risk of cancer perception, and patient’s satisfaction on genetic counselling and online service pre- and post-intervention.

Results

The uptake rate for genetic testing after genetic counselling was high (96.43%). In the cancer risk perception assessment, there was also a statistically significant increase in the likelihood of participants in the intervention group opting for genetic testing, with scores rising from 2.9±0.8 pre-intervention to 3.4±0.8 post-intervention (p=0.025). Most participants found that genetic counselling was valuable (89.3%) as well as the counselling session helped them understand how to reduce their cancer risk by screening and prevention strategies (85.7%). Only 21.4% of the participants would prefer to change to in-person genetic counselling.

Conclusions

The multimedia method of pre-test genetic counselling for breast cancer patients demonstrated feasibility and high satisfaction rates. In future, randomised controlled trial should be conducted to explore the potential effectiveness of multimedia genetic counselling services.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Fund for Evidence-based Practice Improvement Collaborative Projects by the Nethersole Evidence-based Nursing Practice Unit – Nethersole Group Hospitals.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.