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Talking about Risk, UncertaintieS of Testing IN Genetics (TRUSTING): development and evaluation of an educational programme for healthcare professionals about BRCA1 & BRCA2 testing

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posted on 2023-06-10, 03:40 authored by Lesley FallowfieldLesley Fallowfield, Ivonne Solis-Trapala, Rachel StarkingsRachel Starkings, Shirley May, Lucy Matthews, Diana Eccles, D Gareth Evans, Clare Turnbull, Gillian Crawford, Valerie JenkinsValerie Jenkins
Background Mainstreaming of germline testing demands that all healthcare professionals have good communication skills, but few have genetic testing and counselling experience. We developed and evaluated educational workshops - Talking about Risk & UncertaintieS of Testing IN Genetics (TRUSTING). Contents included: - presentations and exercises, an interview with a geneticist about BRCA testing, screening and prevention implications, filmed interactions between surgeons, a genetic counsellor and geneticists with a fictitious family; (proband had a BRCA2 pathogenic variant with triple negative breast cancer, her older sister – BRCA2 heterozygous, and cousin – negative for BRCA2 variant). Methods Twenty-one surgeons, 5 oncologists, 18 nurses and 9 genetic counsellors participated. Knowledge (18 item MCQ), communication skills (responses to 6 questions from proband and relatives), self-confidence (discussing 9 genetic testing issues) were assessed pre and post workshop. Results Knowledge scores improved significantly post workshop (mean change=7.06; 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.37 to 7.74; P<0.001), as did communication (mean change = 5.38; 95% CI 4.37 to 6.38; P<0.001) and self-confidence (P<0.001). Discussion Healthcare professionals’ knowledge and self-confidence when discussing the risks and uncertainties in genetics is often poor. TRUSTING workshops significantly enhanced attendees’ navigation of communication difficulties encountered and will be rolled out more widely.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

British Journal of Cancer

ISSN

0007-0920

Publisher

Springer Nature

Department affiliated with

  • Sussex Health Outcomes Research & Education in Cancer (SHORE-C) Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Sussex Health Outcomes Research and Education in Cancer Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2022-05-26

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2022-06-20

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2022-05-25

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