The researchers enrolled 669 women undergoing BRCA1/BRCA2 gene testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. The participants were randomly assigned to either in-person or telephone counseling before and after testing.
Researchers found telephone counseling was as effective as in-person counseling for outcomes related to knowledge, satisfaction, decision conflict, distress and quality of life. Telephone counseling also led to cost savings of $114 per patient, according to the study.
“Genetic counseling can be effectively and efficiently delivered via telephone to increase access and decrease costs,” the study authors concluded.
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