Coordinator research program Communication in Healthcare; endowed professor 'Communication in healthcare, especially in primary care', Radboud University, the Netherlands
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The initiator and timing of referral to breast cancer genetic counselling: an exploration of everyday person-centered practice.
Riel, E. van, Hubers, A.J., Witkamp, A.J., Dulmen, S. van, Ausems, M.G.E.M. The initiator and timing of referral to breast cancer genetic counselling: an exploration of everyday person-centered practice. International Journal of Person-Centered Medicine: 2013, 3(1), p. 88-95.
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Objective: The referral process for genetic counselling in breast cancer patients may be compromised by patient-related factors, like patient’s age, referral initiative or cancer history. This study aimed to characterize this referral process in daily clinical practice. Methods: During genetic counselling a checklist was filled in for each consecutive counselee affected with breast cancer assessing educational level, the initiator for referral and the ethnic background as reported by the counselee. Chi-square tests were used to assess associations between patient-related factors and initiator of referral and timing of genetic counselling. Results: Included were 96 consecutive breast cancer patients referred to cancer genetic counselling: 52% of them were referred on their own initiative versus 48% on their doctor’s initiative. There was no significant relationship between initiator of referral and time since diagnosis, age at time of diagnosis, number of first-degree female relatives and number of first degree relatives affected by any cancer. Discussion: Patients’ interest in genetic testing is not clearly related with time since diagnosis. Family history seems to play a role in the timing for referral. Conclusion: At one out of two breast cancer patients plays a major role in the referral for genetic counselling. However, we did not establish a relationship between initiative for referral and time since diagnosis. (aut. ref.)
Objective: The referral process for genetic counselling in breast cancer patients may be compromised by patient-related factors, like patient’s age, referral initiative or cancer history. This study aimed to characterize this referral process in daily clinical practice. Methods: During genetic counselling a checklist was filled in for each consecutive counselee affected with breast cancer assessing educational level, the initiator for referral and the ethnic background as reported by the counselee. Chi-square tests were used to assess associations between patient-related factors and initiator of referral and timing of genetic counselling. Results: Included were 96 consecutive breast cancer patients referred to cancer genetic counselling: 52% of them were referred on their own initiative versus 48% on their doctor’s initiative. There was no significant relationship between initiator of referral and time since diagnosis, age at time of diagnosis, number of first-degree female relatives and number of first degree relatives affected by any cancer. Discussion: Patients’ interest in genetic testing is not clearly related with time since diagnosis. Family history seems to play a role in the timing for referral. Conclusion: At one out of two breast cancer patients plays a major role in the referral for genetic counselling. However, we did not establish a relationship between initiative for referral and time since diagnosis. (aut. ref.)