Rapid Implementation of Telegenetic Counseling in the COVID-19 and Swedish Healthcare Context: A Feasibility Study

Rebecka Pestoff; Peter Johansson; Henrik Danielsson; Margit Neher; Cecilia Gunnarsson

doi:10.3389/frhs.2022.848512

Rapid Implementation of Telegenetic Counseling in the COVID-19 and Swedish Healthcare Context: A Feasibility Study

Front Health Serv. 2022 Jun 23:2:848512. doi: 10.3389/frhs.2022.848512. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Rebecka Pestoff^{1

2

3}, Peter Johansson⁴, Henrik Danielsson⁵, Margit Neher⁶, Cecilia Gunnarsson^{1

2

7}

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Rare Diseases in Southeast Region of Sweden, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
² Division of Community Medicine, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
³ Department of Clinical Genetics, Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
⁴ Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
⁵ Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
⁶ Department of Rehabilitation, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden.
⁷ Department of Clinical and Experimental Science, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.

Abstract

This study reports the process and preliminary findings of rapid implementation of telegenetic counseling in the context of Swedish healthcare and COVID-19 pandemic, from both a patient and a provider perspective. Fourty-nine patients and 6 healthcare professionals were included in this feasibility study of telegenetic counseling in a regional Department of Clinical Genetics in Sweden. Telegenetic counseling is here defined as providing genetic counseling to patients by video (n = 30) or telephone (n = 19) appointments. Four specific feasibility aspects were considered: acceptability, demand, implementation, and preliminary efficacy. Several measures were used including the Genetic Counseling Outcome Scale 24 (collected pre- and post-counseling); the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire; a short study specific evaluation and Visiba Care evaluations, all collected post-counseling. The measures were analyzed with descriptive statistics and the preliminary results show a high level of acceptance and demand, from both patients and providers. Results also indicate successful initial implementation in the regional Department of Clinical Genetics and preliminary efficacy, as shown by significant clinically important improvement in patients' empowerment levels.

Keywords: communication; genetic counseling; genetics services; service delivery models; telemedicine.