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 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.

PMID: 33970363
PMCID: PMC8107020
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

Bettina Meiser et al. Fam Cancer. 2022 Apr.

. 2022 Apr;21(2):157-166.

doi: 10.1007/s10689-021-00261-1. Epub 2021 May 10.

Authors

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.

PMID: 33970363
PMCID: PMC8107020
DOI: 10.1007/s10689-021-00261-1

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.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Margaret Gleeson and Maira Kentwell declare remunerated consultant roles with the company AstraZeneca with respect to activities unrelated to this article. Paula Woodward had a remunerated consultant role with respect to the current study. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
Examples of reinforcing activities

**Fig. 2**
Percentage of participants endorsing modules of training program as “very…

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

1. Moore K, Colombo N, Scambia G, et al. Maintenance olaparib in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer. N Engl J Med. 2018;379:2495–2505. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1810858. - DOI - PubMed
1. Puiade-Lauraine E, Ledermann J, Selle F, et al. Olaparib tablets as maintenance therapy in patients with platinum- sensitive, relapsed ovarian cancer and A BRCA1/2 mutation (SOLO2/ENGOT-Ov21): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2017;8(9):1274–1284. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(17)30469-2. - DOI - PubMed
1. Mirza M, Monk B, Herrstedt J, et al. Niraparib maintenance therapy in platinum-sensitive, recurrent ovarian cancer. N Engl J Med. 2016;375:2154–2164. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1611310. - DOI - PubMed
1. Hartmann LC, Schaid DJ, Woods JE, et al. Efficacy of bilateral prophylactic mastectomy in women with a family history of breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 1999;340(2):77–84. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199901143400201. - DOI - PubMed
1. Evans D, Ingham S, Baildam A, et al. Contralateral mastectomy improves survival in women with BRCA1/2-associated breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2013;140(1):135–142. doi: 10.1007/s10549-013-2583-1. - DOI - PubMed

MeSH terms

Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions

Substances

Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
- scite Smart Citations
Medical
- MedlinePlus Health Information
Miscellaneous
- NCI CPTAC Assay Portal

Save citation to file

Email citation

Add to Collections

Add to My Bibliography

Your saved search

Create a file for external citation management software

Your RSS Feed

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

Affiliations

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

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

References

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Other Literature Sources

Medical

Miscellaneous