Can Chatbots Help with Genetic Testing for Cancer Risk?
In a study from Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U) and NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center, researchers found that a specialized chatbot can effectively assist patients in deciding whether to pursue genetic testing, offering an alternative to traditional genetic counseling.
Kimberly Kaphingst, ScD, research director of the Genetic Counseling Shared Resource and co-leader of the Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program at Huntsman Cancer Institute, and professor of communication at the U, says the results of the BRIDGE (Broadening the Reach, Impact, and Delivery of Genetic Services) trial could help expand patient access to genetic care.
According to the American Cancer Society, up to 10% of all cancers may be caused by inherited genetic changes.
The current standard of care model for genetic testing involves a two-appointment process. Patients first meet with a genetic counselor for a pre-test appointment, during which they discuss their family history, as well as the risks, benefits, and limitations of testing. If patients choose to proceed with testing, they schedule a second appointment to analyze the results with the counselor.
Researcher and genetic counselor Rachelle Chambers, MS, CGC, manager of the High-Risk Cancer Genetics Program at NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center, says the promising results of this equivalency trial are crucial as knowledge of and demand for genetic testing is on the rise.
Patients who know they are genetically more likely to develop cancer can be proactive in prevention, through increased screenings, taking medications, pursuing surgery to reduce risk, and changing personal behaviors.
Results of the BRIDGE trial have been published in JAMA Network Open. The study was co-led by Saundra Buys, MD, Huntsman Cancer Institute investigator and professor in the department of medicine at the U, and Meenakshi Sigireddi, MD, assistant professor of medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.