Description

This study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) within the Black Women's Health Study (BWHS) to test alternate communication modalities for results disclosure. The BWHS is an ongoing prospective cohort study of 59,000 self-identified black women from across the United States who have been followed since 1995. Targeted sequencing of over 4000 women within the cohort for BRCA1/2 and other known or suspected high and moderate penetrance genes opens up the possibility of returning breast cancer genetic results to BWHS participants and examining the clinical utility of genetic results return. The primary aim of the proposed research project is to compare the efficacy of two communication modalities for returning breast cancer genetic research results to African American women: 1) a conventional modality that entails telephone disclosure by a licensed genetic counselor, and 2) an online self-guided modality that entails returning results directly to participants, with optional genetic counselor follow-up via telephone. Secondary aims of this study will examine 1) moderators of the intervention impact and 2) psychosocial, sociodemographic, and clinical predictors of result uptake. This study is uniquely situated to provide critical empirical evidence on the effectiveness of alternate models for genetic results return and provide further insight into the factors influencing uptake of genetic information among African American women.