An educational video as an aid in pre-test genetic counselling in a breast clinic of a multicultural Asian city (Oral presentation)

Abstract

<p>Background: Genetic predisposition plays a significant role in breast cancer (BC) risk. In Hong Kong, genetic testing (GT) and counselling are increasingly in demand due to new treatment options for BRCA1/2 mutations. However, a shortage of genetic professionals necessitates more efficient counselling methods. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of using an educational video during pre-test genetic counselling (PGC) and to evaluate whether knowledge uptake is comparable between counselling by a genetic counsellor and video-aided counselling.</p><p>Methods: The Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Registry developed an 8.5-minute video in English and Chinese about hereditary BC and ovarian cancer (OC) GT. We invited females aged ≥ 18 eligible for the GT and attending the breast clinic in Tung Wah Hospital of Hong Kong. The GT eligibility criterion included BC aged ≤ 45, bilateral BC, triple-negative BC, OC, or family history of BC/OC. This study was a randomized control trial using convenience sampling due to the clinical setting. Participants were blindly assigned to one of the following groups based on their appointment times: video-only group, video with question time group, or control group receiving traditional in-person counselling. Knowledge quizzes were administered pre- and postcounselling.</p><p>Result: 283 participants (mean age: 47.04) were recruited, with 90.8% having at least secondary education. Baseline quiz mean scores were similar across groups (F(2,280) = 0.044, p= 0.957). Post-counselling mean scores increased significantly in all groups (p< 0.001), with a Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks test confirming improvement (Z = -14.127, p = 0.000). Video-aided PGC significantly reduced counselling time (mean: 10.62 minutes) compared to traditional counselling (mean: 19.42 minutes).</p><p>Conclusions: Video-aided PGC with question time is a viable alternative to traditional counselling for BC/OC patients in densely populated areas like Hong Kong. It provides comparable knowledge transfer while enhancing PGC efficiency and addressing the shortage of genetic professionals.</p>