Genetics providers' perspectives on the use of digital tools in clinical practice

Whiwon Lee; Daena Hirjikaka; Sonya Grewal; Angela Shaw; Stephanie Luca; Marc Clausen; Yvonne Bombard; Robin Z Hayeems; Genetics Navigator Study Team

doi:10.1016/j.gim.2024.101122

Genetics providers' perspectives on the use of digital tools in clinical practice

Genet Med. 2024 Mar 14;26(6):101122. doi: 10.1016/j.gim.2024.101122. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Whiwon Lee¹, Daena Hirjikaka², Sonya Grewal², Angela Shaw², Stephanie Luca³, Marc Clausen², Yvonne Bombard⁴, Robin Z Hayeems⁵; Genetics Navigator Study Team

Collaborators

Affiliations

¹ Program in Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
² Genomics Health Services Research Program, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
³ Program in Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Genomics Health Services Research Program, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁵ Program in Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. Electronic address: robin.hayeems@sickkids.ca.

PMID: 38493336
DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2024.101122

Abstract

Purpose: Digital tools are increasingly incorporated into genetics practice to address challenges with the current model of care. Yet, genetics providers' perspectives on digital tool use are not well characterized.

Methods: Genetics providers across Canada were recruited. Semistructured interviews were conducted to ascertain their perspectives on digital tool use and the clinical practice factors that might inform digital tool integration. A qualitative interpretive description approach was used for analysis.

Results: Thirty-three genetics providers across 5 provinces were interviewed. Participants had favorable attitudes toward digital tool use. They were open to using digital tools in the pretest phase of the genetic testing pathway and for some posttest tasks or in a hybrid model of care. Participants expressed that digital tools could enhance efficiency and allow providers to spend more time practicing at the top of scope. Providers also described the need for careful consideration of the potential impact of digitalization on the clinician-patient dynamic, access to and equity of care, and unintended digital burden on providers.

Conclusion: Genetics providers considered digital tools to represent a viable solution for improving access, efficiency, and quality of care in genetics practice. Successful use of digital tools in practice will require careful consideration of their potential unintended impacts.

Keywords: Digital health; Digital tools; Genetic counseling; Genetic services; Provider perspective.