Cook CB, Dragojlovic N, Siemens A, Adam S, du Souich C, van Karnebeek C, Lehman A, Nelson TN, Friedman J, Lynd LD, Elliott AM; CAUSES Study., GenCOUNSEL Study. Integration of
genetic counsellors in genomic testing triage: Outcomes of a genomic consultation service in British Columbia, Canada.
Eur J Med Genet 2021;
64:104024. [PMID:
32798762 DOI:
10.1016/j.ejmg.2020.104024]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
Clinical diagnostic genome-wide (exome or genome) sequencing (GWS) in British Columbia requires funding approval by a provincial agency on a case-by-case basis. The CAUSES Clinic was a pediatric translational trio-based GWS study at BC Children's and Women's Hospitals. Referrals to the CAUSES Clinic were made through a Genomic Consultation Service (GCS), a multidisciplinary team led by genetic counsellors that provided advice regarding genomic testing for physicians considering GWS for their patients. Here we review the outcomes of the GCS, focusing on patients not recommended for the CAUSES Study.
METHODS
Demographic, clinical, and testing data were abstracted from patient charts. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore associations between demographic and clinical variables and two outcomes: the type of recommendation and referring physicians' decisions to follow the recommendation.
RESULTS
Of 972 GCS referrals, 248 patients were not referred to the CAUSES Study. GWS (vs. a targeted test; e.g. multi-gene panel) was more likely to be recommended to physicians of patients with ID than physicians of patients without ID (OR = 2.98; 95% CI = 1.46 to 6.27; n = 149). In total, 40% of physicians who were recommended to pursue clinical genomic testing submitted an application for funding approval; 71% of applications were approved for funding. Among approved tests, 50% resulted in a diagnosis, including 33% of targeted tests and 82% of GWS tests (χ2 (1) = 5.0, p = 0.026).
CONCLUSION
The GCS provided an effective model in which physicians can interface with genetic specialists, including genetic counsellors, to facilitate appropriate genomic test selection.
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