Research has shown that the average uptake of genetic counseling after referral is often 16 percent or lower, reflecting complex barriers to access and clinical workflow challenges.
To identify more effective models for cancer genetic testing, a team of researchers from Boston University School of Public Health and University of Washington School of Public Health analyzed patient uptake of genetic counseling and testing after conducting digital cancer risk assessment in partnership with a Chicago-based company called CancerIQ, whose platform provides comprehensive risk assessment, along with resources for patient education, pretest counseling and automated test ordering.
At-risk patients in the study then received follow-up genetic testing through one of four workflows: a traditional referral model, point-of-care scheduling, point-of-care counseling/telegenetics, and point-of-care genetic testing.
The researchers published their results in the May 2023 issue of Genetics in Medicine. Data included 102,542 patients who completed risk assessment in 2019 at 27 diverse clinical settings. Across all four workflows, an average of 16 percent of eligible patients completed the genetic testing and counseling process, in line with the industry average. However, 35 percent of eligible patients followed through with genetic testing in clinical settings that offered digital risk assessment with point-of-care genetic testing — more than double that of any other model of care.
“Our results show that comprehensive cancer risk assessment technology, combined with streamlined access to point-of-care genetics, is a promising approach to increase uptake of genetic testing among patients at elevated risk for hereditary cancer syndromes,” said lead author Catharine Wang, Ph.D., associate professor, Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, in a statement. “Together these strategies can expand access to genetic testing that is essential to improve cancer outcomes at the population level.”
CommonSpirit Health uses CancerIQ’s platform to identify patients eligible for genetic testing and is in the process of using it to roll out point-of-care genetic testing at several obstetrical practice locations across the system.
"Genetic testing is a crucial next step for patients whose risk assessment shows them at risk of hereditary cancer. But in the past, it was difficult to access,” said Jennifer Conwell, M.D., a physician at CommonSpirit Health, in a statement. “With the CancerIQ platform, OB-GYNs like me can educate eligible patients, get them tested at the point of care, and work with them on the appropriate surveillance and risk reduction services going forward. CancerIQ allows us to bring genetic testing to the masses, which will have a dramatic effect on the quality of life for countless patients and their families.”
CancerIQ recently launched full-service virtual navigation and genetic counseling services: CancerIQ Complete. This new offering, unveiled in March at the 32nd Annual Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference in Las Vegas, is designed to help health systems bridge staffing gaps and accelerate growth of risk-based cancer screening.
Feyi Ayodele, co-founder and CEO, CancerIQ, noted in a statement that "schedules are tight for patients, physicians and genetic counselors alike. When we streamline the risk assessment and genetic testing process, everyone wins. Providers work more closely with their patients, patients receive personalized cancer prevention plans, and genetic counselors see patients who truly have a need for their expertise. I'm thrilled to see the data showing that this model of care increases patient access so that more health systems commit to offering genetic testing at the point of care,”
