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Differences in Individual Approaches: Communication in the Familial Breast Cancer Consultation and the Effect on Patient Outcomes
Author(s) -
Lobb Elizabeth A.,
Butow Phyllis,
Barratt Alexandra,
Meiser Bettina,
Tucker Katherine
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of genetic counseling
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1573-3599
pISSN - 1059-7700
DOI - 10.1007/s10897-005-1499-2
Subject(s) - genetic counseling , medicine , breast cancer , anxiety , family medicine , clinical psychology , mastectomy , psychology , cancer , psychiatry , genetics , biology
This multicenter study aimed to assess (i) whether individual clinical geneticists and genetic counselors vary in their communication skills and (ii) whether this variation in communication impacts on patient outcomes, such as anxiety, depression, genetics knowledge, and satisfaction. One hundred and fifty women from high‐risk breast cancer families attending their first genetic counseling consultation completed pre and post‐consultation self‐report questionnaires. The consultations were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Univariate analyses showed highly significant differences between individual clinical geneticists and genetic counselors in: facilitating understanding ( p ≤ 0.001); facilitating active involvement ( p ≤ 0.001); facilitating partnership building ( p = 0.003); addressing emotional concerns ( p ≤ 0.001); and discussing prophylactic mastectomy ( p = 0.017). Multivariate linear regressions showed that this variation in communication resulted in a greater change in patient's depression 4 weeks after the counseling session ( p = 0.017). These findings suggest clinical geneticists and genetic counselors have achieved some standardization in communicating information, but showed diversity in their facilitation skills. Communication skills may be a useful area to explore further in this field.