Pilot study of an online training program to increase genetic literacy and communication skills in oncology healthcare professionals discussing BRCA1/2 genetic testing with breast and ovarian cancer patients

Bettina Meiser; Paula Woodward; Margaret Gleeson; Maira Kentwell; Helen Mar Fan; Yoland Antill; Phyllis N Butow; Frances Boyle; Megan Best; Natalie Taylor; Katy Bell; Kathy Tucker

doi:10.1007/s10689-021-00261-1

Pilot study of an online training program to increase genetic literacy and communication skills in oncology healthcare professionals discussing BRCA1/2 genetic testing with breast and ovarian cancer patients

Fam Cancer. 2022 Apr;21(2):157-166. doi: 10.1007/s10689-021-00261-1. Epub 2021 May 10.

Authors

Bettina Meiser¹, Paula Woodward², Margaret Gleeson³, Maira Kentwell⁴, Helen Mar Fan⁵, Yoland Antill^{6

7}, Phyllis N Butow⁸, Frances Boyle^{9

10}, Megan Best¹¹, Natalie Taylor^{12

13}, Katy Bell¹⁴, Kathy Tucker¹⁵

Affiliations

¹ Psychosocial Research Group, Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Level 4, C25 Lowy Building, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia. b.meiser@unsw.edu.au.
² The Med Collective Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia.
³ Hunter Family Cancer Service, Newcastle, Australia.
⁴ Parkville Familial Cancer Clinic, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
⁵ Genetic Health Queensland, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
⁶ Parkville Familial Cancer Clinic, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
⁷ Family Cancer Clinic, Monash Health, Nursing and Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
⁸ Psycho-Oncology Co-Operative Research Group, Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-Based Decision-Making, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁹ School of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
¹⁰ Pam McLean Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
¹¹ Institute for Ethics and Society, University of Notre Dame, Sydney, Australia.
¹² Cancer Research Division, Cancer Council of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
¹³ Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
¹⁴ School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
¹⁵ Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital and Prince of Wales Clinical School, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Abstract

The increasing use of genetic testing for BRCA1/2 and other pathogenic variants in the management of women with breast and ovarian cancer necessitates increased genetic literacy in oncology healthcare professionals. This pilot study aimed to evaluate an online training program to increase genetic literacy and communication skills in Australian oncology healthcare professionals tasked with discussing and coordinating mainstream genetic testing with breast and ovarian cancer patients. A training website with embedded videos was developed. This study assesses the website's acceptability and user-friendliness; suggestions for improvement were also elicited. Oncology healthcare professionals were recruited through relevant professional organisations, invited to the study by email, asked to work through the website and then complete an online questionnaire. Thirty-two oncology healthcare professionals completed the questionnaire after viewing the website. Nearly all participants were satisfied with the information contained in the program (very satisfied: n = 14/32, 44%, satisfied: n = 17/32, 53%, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied: n = 1/32, 3%) and reported that they had gained new skills (n = 29/32, 91%) and had increased confidence (n = 29/31, 94%) in communicating with breast and ovarian cancer patients about genetic testing. More than 93% (28/30) of participants endorsed the online program as clearly presented, informative, relevant and useful. This pilot study demonstrated high feasibility and acceptability of the training program to increase genetic literacy and communication skills in oncology healthcare professionals discussing genetic testing with breast and ovarian cancer patients. Further evidence from a randomised trial is needed to evaluate effects on changing clinical practice, improving patient outcomes, and cost-effectiveness.

Keywords: BRCA1; BRCA2; Breast cancer; Communication training; Genetic testing; Oncology healthcare professionals; Online training; Ovarian cancer.

MeSH terms

Australia
BRCA1 Protein / genetics
BRCA2 Protein / genetics*
Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial / genetics
Communication
Delivery of Health Care
Female
Genetic Testing
Humans
Literacy*
Ovarian Neoplasms* / genetics
Pilot Projects

Substances

BRCA1 Protein
BRCA1 protein, human
BRCA2 Protein
BRCA2 protein, human