Telemedicine vs. Face-to-Face Cancer Genetic Counseling

Duke University

Status

Completed

Conditions

Lynch Syndrome

Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome

Treatments

Other: Face-to-Face

Other: Telemedicine

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT00609505

DISP0707781

Pro00001547

Details and patient eligibility

About

Cancer genetic counseling (CGC) has been found to have "substantial" benefits for individuals with breast cancer and their family members; it has been deemed by multiple organizations as "standard of care" for women with breast cancer and their relatives. Unfortunately, there is a disparity in access to CGC, especially among women who live in rural and underserved areas. In North Carolina, only two cancer genetic counselors practice in rural clinics - each only for a few days per month. Therefore, in an effort to make CGC more widely available in a timely manner, we propose to test provision of counseling through telemedicine (TM), in which a patient and health care provider communicate with each other using videoconferencing. In 4 rural oncology clinics, we will implement low-cost TM and compare satisfaction and cost-effectiveness between groups of women designated to have their CGC session by TM or FTF. We'll use a validated measure to assess satisfaction by a phone survey one week after the CGC appointment; cost-effectiveness will be measured at project's end by calculating length of wait time for appointment and costs of equipment, labor, and mileage. Study hypothesis: TM is as satisfactory as FTF counseling and is a more cost-effective way to provide this beneficial service.

Enrollment

130 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Individuals referred for cancer genetic counseling (e.g., by medical oncologist, primary care physician or self) in one of 4 oncology clinics: Gibson Cancer Center in Lumberton, NC; Scotland Cancer Treatment Center in Laurinburg, NC; Johnston Cancer Center in Smithfield, NC; and Maria Parham Cancer Center in Henderson, NC.
Willing to be randomized to receive counseling via telemedicine or face-to-face.

Exclusion criteria

Referred for cancer genetic counseling from any clinic other than the 4 listed above.
Unwilling to be randomized to receive counseling via telemedicine or face-to-face.