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Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer: successful systematic implementation of a group approach to genetic counselling

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Abstract

The increase in referrals to cancer genetics clinics, partially associated with the “Angelina Jolie effect”, presents a challenge to existing services, many are already running at full capacity. More efficient ways to deliver genetic counselling are therefore urgently needed. We now systematically offer group instead of standard individual counselling to patients with suspected Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer. Group sessions last 30 min. The first twenty consist of a presentation by the genetic counsellor, the next ten of a discussion involving a cancer geneticist and a psychologist. A short individual consultation ensues, where personal and family issues are addressed and consent obtained. Blood is drawn afterwards. Satisfaction and knowledge are evaluated. We report data for the Oct-2014–Aug-2015 period. 210 patients attended group counselling, up to eight simultaneously. We always fitted them within a 4-h time frame. Mean satisfaction score was 41/43. Knowledge scores increased from 3.1/6 to 4.9/6 post-counselling (p value < 2.2 × 10−16). Thanks to group counselling, we have withstood increases in referrals without compromising care. The “Angelina Jolie effect” and rapid developments in personalized medicine threaten to overwhelm cancer genetics clinics. In this context, our innovative approach should ensure that all patients have access to approved services.

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Acknowledgments

This work was selected for an oral presentation at the European Society of Human Genetics annual meeting held in Glasgow, UK, 6–9 June 2015. We are grateful to Frederique Legale and Caroline Baynes for logistical assistance. The Cancer Genetics Clinic at the Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus Grand Paris is supported by the French Institut National du Cancer (INCA).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Consultation d’Oncogénétique, Département de Médecine Oncologique, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus Grand Paris, 114 rue Edouard Vaillant, 94805, Villejuif, France

    Patrick R. Benusiglio, Marina Di Maria, Anne Jouinot, Antoine Poli, Sophie Villebasse, Marine Le Mentec & Olivier Caron

  2. Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, Strangeways Research Laboratory, Worts Causeway, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, UK

    Leila Dorling

  3. Oncologie Médicale, Hôpital Cochin – Port Royal AP-HP, Université Paris Descartes, 53 Avenue de l’Observatoire, 75014, Paris, France

    Anne Jouinot

  4. Unité de Psycho-Oncologie, Département Interdisciplinaire de Soins de Support, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus Grand Paris, 114 rue Edouard Vaillant, 94805, Villejuif, France

    Béatrice Claret & Diane Boinon

Authors
  1. Patrick R. Benusiglio
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  2. Marina Di Maria
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  3. Leila Dorling
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  4. Anne Jouinot
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  5. Antoine Poli
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  6. Sophie Villebasse
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  7. Marine Le Mentec
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  8. Béatrice Claret
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  9. Diane Boinon
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  10. Olivier Caron
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patrick R. Benusiglio.

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Conflict of interest

Olivier Caron was an invited speaker for Astra Zeneca. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Benusiglio, P.R., Di Maria, M., Dorling, L. et al. Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer: successful systematic implementation of a group approach to genetic counselling. Familial Cancer 16, 51–56 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10689-016-9929-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10689-016-9929-x

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