Feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes of a pilot intervention facilitating communication about family building between patients with inherited cancer risk and their partners

Marleah Dean; Jonathan T Baker; Maija Reblin; Elizabeth A Hintz; Susan T Vadaparampil; Carolyn Haskins; Gwendolyn P Quinn

doi:10.1016/j.pecinn.2022.100055

Feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes of a pilot intervention facilitating communication about family building between patients with inherited cancer risk and their partners

PEC Innov. 2022 Jun 1:1:100055. doi: 10.1016/j.pecinn.2022.100055. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Authors

Marleah Dean^{1

2}, Jonathan T Baker¹, Maija Reblin³, Elizabeth A Hintz⁴, Susan T Vadaparampil², Carolyn Haskins⁵, Gwendolyn P Quinn⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Communication, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
² Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA.
³ Department of Family Medicine, University of Vermont, VT, USA.
⁴ Department of Communication, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
⁵ Department of Genetic Counseling, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA.
⁶ Department of OB-GYN, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, NY, USA.

Abstract

Objective: This study reports the feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes of a longitudinal, communication pilot intervention for patients with inherited cancer risk and their partners.

Methods: Couples were recruited through social media and snowball sampling. At Time 1 and 2, 15 couples completed a structured discussion task about family building concerns and decisions, followed by an online post-discussion questionnaire and dyadic interview to provide feedback about the experience. Interview data were analyzed to assess outcomes using applied thematic analysis.

Results: Participants reported the intervention created an opportunity for honest disclosure of family building goals and concerns. Participants also stated the structured nature of the discussion task was useful and did not cause additional stress. The intervention ultimately aided at-risk patients and their partners to realize their concordant concerns, discover/confront discordant concerns, and mutually agree upon next steps.

Conclusions: This pilot intervention is feasible and acceptable. Furthermore, it offers a framework to facilitate effective communication about family building between patients with inherited cancer risk and their partners.

Innovation: This intervention is the first conversational tool designed for at-risk patients and their partners.

Keywords: Couples; Discussion task; Family building; Inherited cancer risk; Interpersonal communication; Pilot intervention.