2023 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting Digital Edition: Poster Gallery-Engaging primary care patients in population-based risk assessment for hereditary cancer genetic testing: Preliminary outcomes of point-of-care engagement efforts

Engaging primary care patients in population-based risk assessment for hereditary cancer genetic testing: Preliminary outcomes of point-of-care engagement efforts

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The EDGE study compared two strategies for engaging primary care patients in population-based risk assessment for hereditary cancer genetic testing. The first approach, Direct Patient Engagement (DPE), involved patients accessing an online screener on their own. The second approach, Point-of-Care engagement (POC), involved patients being approached in the clinic with a tablet to complete the risk assessment. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some clinics in the POC arm switched to a remote approach where patients completed screening over the phone prior to their appointment. The study aimed to compare the outcomes of in-person POC engagement versus remote POC engagement.<br /><br />Six primary care clinics were included in the POC arm, with three using an in-person approach and three using a remote approach. Between April 2021 and June 2022, a total of 55,547 patients were seen at the participating clinics, of which 19,304 patients (35%) were approached for the risk assessment. Screening completion rates were lower for in-person approaches compared to remote approaches, resulting in differences in the total number of patients screened.<br /><br />Initial interest in genetic testing among eligible patients was high at all clinical sites, but follow-through with ordering genetic testing was lower at clinics that used in-person approaches compared to remote approaches. This discrepancy led to fewer patients completing genetic testing at the clinics using in-person approaches.<br /><br />Overall, regardless of the approach, POC engagement missed almost two-thirds of patients seen at the clinics during the recruitment period, indicating that the staffing resource demands of POC engagement may limit its reach as an engagement method.<br /><br />This research was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, and the authors are solely responsible for its content, which may not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Asset Subtitle

Presenting Author - Catharine Wang, PhD; Co-Author - Deborah J. Bowen, PhD; Co-Author - Heather Harris, RD; Co-Author - Tesla N. Theoryn, MEd; Co-Author - DaLaina M. Cameron, BA; Co-Author - Elizabeth M. Swisher, MD;

Meta Tag

Cancer Syndromes

Genetic Testing

Psychosocial Issues

Risk Assessment

Co-Author Deborah J. Bowen, PhD

Co-Author Heather Harris, RD

Co-Author Tesla N. Theoryn, MEd

Co-Author DaLaina M. Cameron, BA

Co-Author Elizabeth M. Swisher, MD

Presenting Author Catharine Wang, PhD

Keywords

EDGE study

primary care patients

hereditary cancer genetic testing

Direct Patient Engagement

Point-of-Care engagement

COVID-19 pandemic

remote approach

in-person approach

genetic testing

engagement method