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. 2016 Jul:49:178-189.
doi: 10.1016/j.lindif.2016.06.009. Epub 2016 Jul 1.

Understanding Genetic Breast Cancer Risk: Processing Loci of the BRCA Gist Intelligent Tutoring System

Christopher R Wolfe  1 , Valerie F Reyna  2 , Colin L Widmer  1 , Elizabeth M Cedillos-Whynott  1 , Priscila G Brust-Renck  2 , Audrey M Weil  1 , Xiangen Hu  3
Affiliations

Understanding Genetic Breast Cancer Risk: Processing Loci of the BRCA Gist Intelligent Tutoring System

Christopher R Wolfe et al. Learn Individ Differ. 2016 Jul.

Abstract

The BRCA Gist Intelligent Tutoring System helps women understand and make decisions about genetic testing for breast cancer risk. BRCA Gist is guided by Fuzzy-Trace Theory, (FTT) and built using AutoTutor Lite. It responds differently to participants depending on what they say. Seven tutorial dialogues requiring explanation and argumentation are guided by three FTT concepts: forming gist explanations in one's own words, emphasizing decision-relevant information, and deliberating the consequences of decision alternatives. Participants were randomly assigned to BRCA Gist, a control, or impoverished BRCA Gist conditions removing gist explanation dialogues, argumentation dialogues, or FTT images. All BRCA Gist conditions performed significantly better than controls on knowledge, comprehension, and risk assessment. Significant differences in knowledge, comprehension, and fine-grained dialogue analyses demonstrate the efficacy of gist explanation dialogues. FTT images significantly increased knowledge. Providing more elements in arguments against testing correlated with increased knowledge and comprehension.

Keywords: Breast Cancer; Fuzzy-Trace Theory; Genetic Testing; Intelligent Tutoring System; Medical Decision-Making.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Screen shot of BRCA Gist using the text box to answer the question, "What is the case against genetic testing for breast cancer risk?"
Figure 2
Figure 2
Image capturing the gist that "most survive" breast cancer stages 0–3.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Graphic based on Fuzzy-Trace Theory to help people develop a gist understanding of the difference between relative and absolute risk.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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