Moving into the mainstream: healthcare professionals ’ views of implementing treatment focussed genetic testing in breast cancer care

This study sought to determine genetics and non-genetics specialists’ views of a proposal to mainstreamBRCA1 and2 testing in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Qualitative interview study. Nineteen healthcare professionals currently responsible for offering TFGT in a standard (triage  + referral) pathway (breast surgeons + clinical genetics team) and oncologists preparing to offer TFGT to breast cancer patients in a mainstreamed pathway participated in in-depth interviews. Genetics and non-genetics professionals’ perceptions of mainstreaming are influenced by their vie ws of: their clinical roles and responsibilities, the impact of TFGT on their workload and the patient pathway and the perceived relevance of genetic testing for patient care in the short-term. Perceived barriers to mainstreaming may be overcome by: more effective communication between specialities, clearer guidelines/patient pathways and the recruitment of mainstreaming champions.
Source: Familial Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research