A RECENT study has demonstrated the effectiveness of online screening and virtual patient education tools in improving hereditary cancer risk assessments. The research, conducted at five US community obstetrics and gynaecology practices, aimed to increase the completion rate of genetic testing for patients at risk of hereditary cancers.
Clinicians participated in an 8-week observation period followed by 3–4 weeks of training on using online screening tools and virtual patient education resources, such as prerecorded videos and optional genetic counsellor phone calls. After a 4-week practice period, the team assessed changes in genetic testing completion rates and patient education metrics.
Overall, a total of 5,795 and 5,135 patients were seen before and after the intervention, respectively. Results showed a significant improvement in the proportion of patients meeting genetic testing guidelines. The percentage of patients who were screened and met testing criteria increased from 21.6% to 28.2% (odds ratio [OR]:1.36; 95% CI: 1.26–1.47; P<0.001). Guideline-eligible patients were also more likely to be offered genetic testing (89.1% after the intervention, compared to 59.1% before), submit a sample (45.0% after, compared to 32.9%), and complete the testing (34.2% after, compared to 16.0%).
Clinicians reported that the screening tool made it easier to identify patients who met hereditary cancer risk guidelines (92.1%) and that virtual education enhanced their ability to deliver appropriate patient care (84.2%). Patients also expressed high satisfaction, with 91.7% agreeing that virtual education helped them understand the purpose of genetic testing and 92.6% understanding its implications.
This study underscores the value of integrating digital tools into clinical practices, demonstrating that they can enhance hereditary cancer risk assessments, increase testing completion rates, and improve patient education, ultimately leading to better care outcomes.
Helena Bradbury, EMJ
Reference
Richard WN et al. Online screening and virtual patient education for hereditary cancer risk assessment and testing. Obstret Gynecol. 2024; doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000005799.
