Interactive Computer Program May Help With Genetic Counseling on Breast Cancer

An interactive educational computer program may be helpful to computer-literate women seeking genetic counseling regarding their susceptibility to developing breast cancer, according to researchers at the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Researchers recruited 29 women who had a first-degree relative with breast cancer and who were also interested in receiving genetic susceptibility testing.

After using the computer program for one hour, the women met with a genetic counselor for a personal, one hour to 100-minute session.

In their study published in the American Journal of Medical Genetics, researchers found that a "highly educated, computer literate" group women at moderate risk for inherited breast cancer "like being educated by an interactive computer program that allows them to learn at their own pace, use their time efficiently, and avoid embarrassment."

Counselors were better at addressing and being sensitive to the women's concerns, and helping in the decision making process, said the participants.

The counselors reported that the computer program was helpful to them in the conveyance of basic information to the women, giving the counselors more time to address the patients' psychological concerns.

Researchers suggest that combining the computer program with personal, individualized components of genetic counseling may enhance the overall process.

Other Sources: Penn State College of Medicine