Akke Albada*, NIVEL (Netherlands institute for health services research), Utrecht, Netherlands Sandra Van Dulmen*, Nivel, Utrecht, Netherlands Margreet G.e.m. Ausems, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands Jozien Bensing, Nivel, Utrecht, Netherlands Track: Research Presentation Topic: Consumer empowerment, patient-physician relationship, and sociotechnical issues Presentation Type: Poster presentation Submission Type: Single Presentation Building: MECC Room: Trajectum Last modified: 2010-07-08

If you are the presenter of this abstract (or if you cite this abstract in a talk or on a poster), please show the QR code in your slide or poster (QR code contains this URL).

Background: Counselees in breast cancer genetic counselling are generally poorly prepared for the counselling and do not know what to expect from it. Consequently, counselees ask few questions in the consultation and receive large amounts of, largely standard, information. After this first visit counselees have more accurate knowledge, perceive more personal control and are less anxious. However, most counselees still overestimate their risk of developing breast cancer. The consultation might become more effective if counselees were better prepared for it. Therefore, a website was developed, providing counselees with computer-tailored information about e.g. the genetic counselling procedure, risk of breast cancer and meaning of being carrier of a cancer gene. The information is supplemented with a question prompt sheet on which counselees can write their questions for the consultation. This website is called ‘E-info gene-ca’ (in full: electronic information about cancer genetics).

Objective: To evaluate the effects of the website E-info gene-ca on the consultation and the post-visit outcomes breast cancer knowledge, accurate risk perception and perceived personal control.

Methods: The effects of E-info gene-ca were evaluated in an RCT. 200 counselees who were the first in their family to request breast cancer genetic counselling were included. Counselees were randomly assigned to receive only a leaflet with concise standard information or to, additionally, gain access to E-info gene-ca. Usage of E-info gene-ca was tracked (site visit, page views and duration of visits). Intervention group counselees filled out an evaluation form about the website in which also their breast cancer knowledge was assessed. All counselees were asked to complete a questionnaire before and after their first consultation assessing breast cancer knowledge, risk perception and perceived personal control. The consultations were videotaped and observed with the Roter Interaction Analysis System to determine the number of counselee and counsellor utterances, counselee questions and concerns.

Results: Effects of the website on the counsellor-counselee communication during the consultation and post-visit outcomes will be presented. Preliminary findings show increased breast cancer knowledge in the intervention compared to the control group after the first consultation for breast cancer genetic counselling. Additionally, breast cancer knowledge is an important predictor of perceived personal control.

Conclusions: E-info gene-ca is a website to better prepare counselees for breast cancer genetic counselling and has beneficial effects on counselees’ post-visit breast cancer knowledge.