Randomized trial promoting cancer genetic risk assessment when genetic counseling cost removed: 1-year follow-up

PURPOSE

Cancer genetic risk assessment (CGRA) is recommended for women with ovarian and high-risk breast cancer. However, the underutilization of CGRA has long been documented, and cost has been a major barrier. In this randomized controlled trial, a tailored counseling and navigation (TCN) intervention significantly improved CGRA uptake at 6-month follow-up, compared with targeted print (TP) and usual care (UC). We aimed to examine the effect of removing genetic counseling costs on CGRA uptake by 12 months.

METHODS

We recruited racially and geographically diverse women with breast and ovarian cancer from cancer registries in Colorado, New Jersey, and New Mexico. Participants assigned to TCN received telephone-based psychoeducation and navigation. After 6 months, the trial provided free genetic counseling to participants in all arms.

RESULTS

At 12 months, more women in TCN obtained CGRA (26.6%) than those in TP (11.0%; odds ratio [OR] = 2.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.56 to 4.89) and UC (12.2%; OR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.41 to 4.29). There were no significant differences in CGRA uptake between TP and UC. The Kaplan-Meier curve shows that the divergence of cumulative incidence slopes (TCN vs UC, TCN vs TP) appears primarily within the initial 6 months.

CONCLUSION

TCN significantly increased CGRA uptake at the 12-month follow-up. Directly removing the costs of genetic counseling attenuated the effects of TCN, highlighting the critical enabling role played by cost coverage. Future policies and interventions should address multilevel cost-related barriers to expand patients' access to CGRA.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial was registered with the NIH clinical trial registry, clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03326713. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03326713.

Identifying Mediators of Intervention Effects Within a Randomized Controlled Trial to Motivate Cancer Genetic Risk Assessment Among Breast and Ovarian Cancer Survivors

BACKGROUND

A theory-guided Tailored Counseling and Navigation (TCN) intervention successfully increased cancer genetic risk assessment (CGRA) uptake among cancer survivors at increased risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC). Understanding the pathways by which interventions motivate behavior change is important for identifying the intervention's active components.

PURPOSE

We examined whether the TCN intervention exerted effects on CGRA uptake through hypothesized theoretical mediators.

METHODS

Cancer survivors at elevated risk for HBOC were recruited from three statewide cancer registries and were randomly assigned to three arms: TCN (n = 212), Targeted Print (TP, n = 216), and Usual Care (UC, n = 213). Theoretical mediators from the Extended Parallel Process Model, Health Action Planning Approach, and Ottawa Decision Support Framework were assessed at baseline and 1-month follow-up; CGRA uptake was assessed at 6 months. Generalized structural equation modeling was used for mediation analysis.

RESULTS

The TCN effects were most strongly mediated by behavioral intention alone (β = 0.49 and 0.31) and by serial mediation through self-efficacy and intention (β = 0.041 and 0.10) when compared with UC and TP, respectively. In addition, compared with UC, the TCN also increased CGRA through increased perceived susceptibility, knowledge of HBOC, and response efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk communication and behavioral change interventions for hereditary cancer should stress a person's increased genetic risk and the potential benefits of genetic counseling and testing, as well as bolster efficacy beliefs by helping remove barriers to CGRA. System-level and policy interventions are needed to further expand access.

Improving Uptake of Cancer Genetic Risk Assessment in a Remote Tailored Risk Communication and Navigation Intervention: Large Effect Size but Room to Grow

PURPOSE

Cancer genetic risk assessment (CGRA) is recommended for women with ovarian cancer or high-risk breast cancer, yet fewer than 30% receive recommended genetic services, with the lowest rates among underserved populations. We hypothesized that compared with usual care (UC) and mailed targeted print (TP) education, CGRA uptake would be highest among women receiving a phone-based tailored risk counseling and navigation intervention (TCN).

METHODS

In this three-arm randomized trial, women with ovarian or high-risk breast cancer were recruited from statewide cancer registries in Colorado, New Jersey, and New Mexico. Participants assigned to TP received a mailed educational brochure. Participants assigned to TCN received the mailed educational brochure, an initial phone-based psychoeducational session with a health coach, a follow-up letter, and a follow-up navigation phone call.

RESULTS

Participants' average age was 61 years, 25.4% identified as Hispanic, 5.9% identified as non-Hispanic Black, and 17.5% lived in rural areas. At 6 months, more women in TCN received CGRA (18.7%) than those in TP (3%; odds ratio, 7.4; 95% CI, 3.0 to 18.3; P < .0001) or UC (2.5%; odds ratio, 8.9; 95% CI, 3.4 to 23.5; P < .0001). There were no significant differences in CGRA uptake between TP and UC. Commonly cited barriers to genetic counseling were lack of provider referral (33.7%) and cost (26.5%), whereas anticipated difficulty coping with test results (14.0%) and cost (41.2%) were barriers for genetic testing.

CONCLUSION

TCN increased CGRA uptake in a group of geographically and ethnically diverse high-risk breast and ovarian cancer survivors. Remote personalized interventions that incorporate evidence-based health communication and behavior change strategies may increase CGRA among women recruited from statewide cancer registries.

Understanding cancer genetic risk assessment motivations in a remote tailored risk communication and navigation intervention randomized controlled trial

Background

National guidelines recommend cancer genetic risk assessment (CGRA) (i.e. genetic counseling prior to genetic testing) for women at increased risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC). Less than one-half of eligible women obtain CGRA, leaving thousands of women and their family members without access to potentially life-saving cancer prevention interventions.

Purpose

The Genetic Risk Assessment for Cancer Education and Empowerment Project (GRACE) addressed this translational gap, testing the efficacy of a tailored counseling and navigation (TCN) intervention vs. a targeted print brochure vs. usual care on CGRA intentions. Selected behavioral variables were theorized to mediate CGRA intentions.

Methods

Breast and ovarian cancer survivors meeting criteria for guideline-based CGRA were recruited from three state cancer registries (N = 654), completed a baseline survey, and were randomized. TCN and targeted print arms received the brochure; TCN also participated in a tailored, telephone-based decision coaching and navigation session grounded in the Extended Parallel Process Model and Ottawa Decision Support Framework. Participants completed a one-month assessment. Logistic regression was used to compare the rate of CGRA intentions. CGRA intentions and theorized mediator scores (continuous level variables) were calculated using mixed model analysis.

Results

CGRA intentions increased for TCN (53.2%) vs. targeted print (26.7%) (OR = 3.129; 95% CI: 2.028, 4.827, p < .0001) and TCN vs. usual care (23.1%) (OR = 3.778, CI: 2.422, 5.894, p < .0001). Perceived risk (p = 0.023) and self-efficacy (p = 0.035) mediated CGRA intentions in TCN.

Conclusions

Improvements in CGRA intentions and theorized mediators support the use of a tailored communication intervention among women at increased HBOC risk. (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03326713.)Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03326713.

Understanding Cancer Genetic Risk Assessment Intentions in a Tailored Risk Communication Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Pathogenic variants in cancer predisposition genes increase second, hereditary cancer risk among women with breast and/or ovarian cancer, and primary cancers in their relatives. National guidelines recommend cancer genetic risk assessment (CGRA) (genetic counseling and/or genetic testing) for women at increased hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) risk. Yet, less than half of high risk women, including rural dwellers and racial minorities have accessed CGRA.

PURPOSE

The Genetic Risk Assessment for Cancer Education and Empowerment Project (GRACE), a superiority trial, addressed this translational gap, testing the efficacy of a targeted print brochure (TP) vs tailored counseling and navigation (TCN) vs usual care (UC) on CGRA intentions. TCN targeted behavioral variables theorized to mediate CGRA intentions. We believe GRACE is the first study of its kind promoting guideline-based CGRA to women at increased HBOC risk.

METHODS

CGRA-eligible women were recruited from three state cancer registries (N=641), completed a baseline survey, and randomized to TCN, TP or UC. TP and TCN received the mailed educational brochure. TCN also engaged in a telephone-based decision coaching and navigation session using motivational interviewing and tailored materials based on the Extended Parallel Process Model and Health Action Process Approach. Participants completed a follow-up survey at one month.

RESULTS

TCN improved CGRA intentions compared to TP (0.64, p<0.001, CI 0.32, 0.97) and UC (0.69, p<0.001, CI 0.37, 1.02). Theoretical targets, perceived risk (0.77, p=0.02, CI 0.11, 1.44) and self-efficacy (0.67, p=0.04, CI 0.05, 1.28) mediated CGRA intentions in TCN. Stratification showed increases in CGRA intentions for TCN vs TP among non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanics, urban dwellers, and women with low health literacy and no family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer (FBOC). In TCN, perceived self-efficacy improved in women with no FBOC.

CONCLUSIONS

Improvements in CGRA intentions and theorized mediators support use of tailored risk communication interventions in Hispanics and women with low health literacy and no FBOC. Further tailoring may improve CGRA intentions in Blacks, other minorities, rural dwellers, and women with high health literacy and FBOC.