Genetic Testing in a Population-Based Sample of Breast and Ovarian Cancer Survivors from the REACH Randomized Trial: Cost Barriers and Moderators of Counseling Mode

• Published in: Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention Vol. 26; no. 12; pp. 1772 - 1780
• Main Authors: Steffen, Laurie E, Du, Ruofei, Gammon, Amanda, Mandelblatt, Jeanne S, Kohlmann, Wendy K, Lee, Ji-Hyun, Buys, Saundra S, Stroup, Antoinette M, Campo, Rebecca A, Flores, Kristina G, Vicuña, Belinda, Schwartz, Marc D, Kinney, Anita Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association for Cancer Research, Inc 01-12-2017
• Subjects: BRCA1 protein; BRCA1 Protein - genetics; BRCA2 Protein - genetics; Breast; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Breast Neoplasms - economics; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; Cancer Survivors - statistics & numerical data; Female; Genetic counseling; Genetic Counseling - economics; Genetic Counseling - methods; Genetic Counseling - statistics & numerical data; Genetic screening; Genetic Testing - economics; Genetic Testing - statistics & numerical data; Health Expenditures - statistics & numerical data; Health risks; Humans; Insurance, Health - economics; Insurance, Health - statistics & numerical data; Middle Aged; Mutation; Ovarian cancer; Ovarian carcinoma; Ovarian Neoplasms - diagnosis; Ovarian Neoplasms - economics; Ovarian Neoplasms - genetics; Patient-Centered Care - economics; Patient-Centered Care - methods; Patient-Centered Care - statistics & numerical data; Population genetics; Risk perception; Telephone; Test procedures
• ISSN: 1055-9965; 1538-7755
• DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-17-0389

This study evaluates predictors of
2 testing among breast and ovarian cancer survivors who received genetic counseling as part of a randomized trial and evaluates moderators of counseling mode on testing uptake.
Predictors of
testing within one year postcounseling were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression in a population-based sample of breast and ovarian cancer survivors at increased hereditary risk randomly assigned to in-person counseling (IPC;
= 379) versus telephone counseling (TC;
= 402). Variables that moderated the association between counseling mode and testing were identified by subgroup analysis.
Testing uptake was associated with higher perceived comparative mutation risk [OR = 1.32; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11-1.57] in the adjusted analysis. Those without cost barriers had higher testing uptake (OR = 18.73; 95% CI, 7.09-49.46). Psychologic distress and perceived comparative mutation risk moderated the effect of counseling and testing. Uptake between IPC versus TC did not differ at low levels of distress and risk, but differed at high distress (26.3% TC vs. 44.3% IPC) and high perceived comparative risk (33.9% TC vs. 50.5% IPC).
Cost concerns are a strong determinant of testing. Differences in testing uptake by counseling mode may depend on precounseling distress and risk perceptions.
Cost concerns may contribute to low testing in population-based samples of at-risk cancer survivors. Precounseling psychosocial characteristics should be considered when offering in-person versus telephone counseling.
.