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In a study from Huntsman Cancer Institute at the (the U) and , researchers found that a specialized chatbot can effectively assist patients in deciding whether to pursue , offering an alternative to traditional genetic counseling.
research director of the and co-leader of the at Huntsman Cancer Institute, and professor of communication at the U, says the results of the BRIDGE (Broadening the Reach, Impact, and Delivery of Genetic Services) trial could help expand patient access to genetic care.
According to the , up to may be caused by inherited genetic changes.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a substantial number of people who have an . The vast majority don鈥檛 know it. As we get better at recognizing people who are in need of genetic testing, we were very interested as a team in coming up with sustainable and scalable ways to actually provide those types of genetic services.鈥
The current model for genetic testing involves a two-appointment process. Patients first meet with a genetic counselor for a pre-test appointment, during which they discuss their family history, as well as the risks, benefits, and limitations of testing. If patients choose to proceed with testing, they schedule a second appointment to analyze the results with the counselor.
About the BRIDGE Trial
The BRIDGE trial used an algorithm to find patients at higher risk for inherited cancer syndromes based on their self-reported family health histories.
Researchers then divided more than 3,000 Utah and New York participants into two groups鈥攐ne pursuing the standard two-appointment model, and the other engaging with a chatbot designed and scripted to provide genetics education instead of having a pre-test appointment with a genetic counselor.
Participants in the chatbot group were sent a message through MyChart, an online patient health portal, recommending genetic services and providing a link to launch a chatbot. They then received information about genetic testing and were able to ask questions to help them decide if they should proceed with testing.
Researchers found outcomes between the two groups were equally likely to complete genetic testing, demonstrating that a chatbot is a viable alternative to the traditional model.
鈥淥ur goal wasn't to see if the chatbot was better or for worse. The question was, is a chatbot another model that we can use to offer genetic services to patients and have similar outcomes,鈥 says Kaphingst. 鈥淔or a lot of people, the chatbot model provided enough information. The chatbot can take some of the burden off genetic counselors and help provide genetic testing to more patients who are eligible.鈥
Researcher and genetic counselor , manager of the at NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center, says the promising results of this equivalency trial are crucial as knowledge of and demand for genetic testing is on the rise.
鈥淭wenty years ago, we were testing for a handful of cancer-related genes, like , which can lead to an increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Now, we might analyze 100 different genes linked to cancers. From my perspective as a genetic counselor, there are not enough genetic specialists to meet the increased demand of patients that could benefit from this type of testing.鈥
Patients who know they are genetically more likely to develop cancer can be proactive in prevention, through increased screenings, taking medications, pursuing surgery to reduce risk, and changing personal behaviors.
. The study was co-led by Saundra Buys, MD, Huntsman Cancer Institute investigator and professor in the department of medicine at the U, and , assistant professor of medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Additional Huntsman Cancer Institute collaborators and contributors:
- Wendy Kohlmann, MS, now at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Sarah Colonna, MD
- , professor of pediatrics at the U
- , professor of clinical informatics at the U
- , professor of biomedical informatics at the U
- , professor of population health sciences at the U
- Michael Flynn, MD, adjunct assistant professor at the U
- Rachel Hess, MD, MS, professor of population health sciences at the U
This study was supported by the National Institutes of 星空传媒 and National Cancer Institute through U01CA232826, which was part of the Inherited Cancer Syndrome Collaborative, P30 CA042014, and Huntsman Cancer Foundation.
Media Contact
Heather Simonsen
Public Affairs Senior Manager
Huntsman Cancer Institute
801 581-3194
public.affairs@hci.utah.edu
About Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the is the National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming. With a legacy of innovative cancer research, groundbreaking discoveries, and world-class patient care, we are transforming the way cancer is understood, prevented, diagnosed, treated, and survived. Huntsman Cancer Institute focuses on delivering the most advanced cancer healing and prevention through scientific breakthroughs and cutting-edge technology to advance cancer treatments of the future beyond the standard of care today. We have more than 300 open clinical trials and 250 research teams studying cancer. More genes for inherited cancers have been discovered at Huntsman Cancer Institute than at any other cancer center. Our scientists are world-renowned for understanding how cancer begins and using that knowledge to develop innovative approaches to treat each patient鈥檚 unique disease. Huntsman Cancer Institute was founded by Jon M. and Karen Huntsman.