2023 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting Digital Edition: Poster Gallery-Use of Genetic Services Among Patients with Prostate Cancer at a Safety-Net Hospital: A Mixed Methods Study

Use of Genetic Services Among Patients with Prostate Cancer at a Safety-Net Hospital: A Mixed Methods Study
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This study examined the use of genetic services among patients with prostate cancer at a safety-net hospital. The researchers used both quantitative and qualitative methods to understand the patterns of genetic referrals and patients' experiences with genetic counseling and testing. The quantitative analysis included a cohort of individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer between January 2011 and March 2020. The primary outcome was referral to genetics after diagnosis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify patient characteristics associated with referrals. The analysis showed that the strongest predictor of referral was clinical stage, with patients with regional or metastatic disease more likely to be referred. There were also disparities in referrals based on race, insurance, and language. The qualitative analysis involved semi-structured interviews with patients who had been referred to genetics in the prior 12 months. The interviews revealed two main themes. The first theme was uncertainty about the purpose of genetic testing, with some patients de-prioritizing testing because they were unsure of its role in treating their cancer. The second theme was a lack of follow-up communication to assist patients in understanding their genetic results. Many participants were confused about how to interpret negative testing results and desired more support in the post-test period. Overall, this study highlights the need for improved education of healthcare providers about guideline eligibility for genetic counseling and testing in patients with prostate cancer. It also emphasizes the importance of optimizing post-test communication to ensure patient understanding of their results. The findings suggest that there may be barriers to accessing and utilizing genetic services among patients at safety-net hospitals, indicating the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities.

Asset Subtitle

Co-Author - Christine Gunn, PhD; Co-Author - Stephanie S. Loo, MS; Co-Author - Kimberly Zayhowski, MSc; Co-Author - Gretchen Gignac, MD; Presenting Author - Catharine Wang, PhD;

Meta Tag

Cancer Syndromes

Counseling

Genetic Testing

Co-Author Christine Gunn, PhD

Co-Author Stephanie S. Loo, MS

Co-Author Kimberly Zayhowski, MSc

Co-Author Gretchen Gignac, MD

Presenting Author Catharine Wang, PhD

Keywords

genetic services

prostate cancer

safety-net hospital

quantitative methods

qualitative methods

genetic referrals

clinical stage

disparities

follow-up communication

patient understanding