Scalable Communication Modalities for Returning Genetic Research Results (BWHS RoR)

March 31, 2026 updated by: Boston University

Testing Scalable Communication Modalities for Returning Breast Cancer Genetic Research Results to African American Women

Efforts to examine the utility of alternate modalities for genetic results disclosure has widespread implications for how precision medicine research might yield direct health benefits for study participants. This study will examine the efficacy of an online self-guided program to return genetic results to a racial minority cohort population. Study results will provide empirical evidence on the effectiveness of alternate modalities for genetic results return, inform ongoing efforts to establish scalable approaches for effective return of genetic research results, and increase access to personal health information among African American women.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed 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.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
926

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Catharine Wang, PhD
  • Phone Number: 617-358-1475
  • Email: clwang@bu.edu

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02118
        • BU School of Public Health, the research is being conducted remotely

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

40 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

-Women in the BWHS previously included in the targeted breast cancer sequencing project

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Women with known cognitive impairments
  • Women with variant of uncertain significance (VUS) results from the sequencing study

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
No Intervention: Conventional modality
Control arm. Conventional modality entails telephone disclosure of genetic results by a licensed genetic counselor.
Experimental: Online modality
Online self-guided modality entails return of genetic results directly to participants, with optional genetic counselor follow-up via telephone.
Behavioral: Online modality
Return of BRCA results directly online or return of printed BRCA results if participant cannot access online or chooses not to
Other Names:
  • Web modality
Behavioral: Genetic counselor follow-up
Optional genetic counselor follow-up over the telephone

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of participant that decide to learn genetic results at 6 weeks
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Decisions about learning genetic results for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer will be monitored and recorded in the electronic study database system.
6 weeks
Number of participant that decide to learn genetic results at 6 months
Time Frame: 6 months
Decisions about learning genetic results for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer will be monitored and recorded in the electronic study database system.
6 months
Change from baseline in breast cancer genetics knowledge based on questionnaire at responses at 6 weeks
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 weeks
Knowledge about breast cancer genetics will be assessed using an investigator derived questionnaire consisting of 16 items. Higher scores out of ten are associated with more genetics knowledge.
Baseline, 6 weeks
Change in baseline depression at 6 weeks
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 weeks
Depression will be assessed using the the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2). The 2 questions are: Over the past 2 weeks have you been bothered by: (1) Little interest or pleasure in doing things, and (2) Feeling down, depressed or hopeless. Responses range from 0 to 3 where 0=Not at all, to 3=Nearly everyday. Scores are added and can range from 0 to 6, with higher scores reflecting greater depression.
Baseline, 6 weeks
Depression at 6 months
Time Frame: 6 months
Depression will be assessed using the the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2). The 2 questions are: Over the past 2 weeks have you been bothered by: (1) Little interest or pleasure in doing things, and (2) Feeling down, depressed or hopeless. Responses range from 0 to 3 where 0=Not at all, to 3=Nearly everyday. Scores are added and can range from 0 to 6, with higher scores reflecting greater depression.
6 months
Depression at 12 months
Time Frame: 12 months
Depression will be assessed using the the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2). The 2 questions are: Over the past 2 weeks have you been bothered by: (1) Little interest or pleasure in doing things, and (2) Feeling down, depressed or hopeless. Responses range from 0 to 3 where 0=Not at all, to 3=Nearly everyday. Scores are added and can range from 0 to 6, with higher scores reflecting greater depression.
12 months
Change in baseline anxiety at 6 weeks
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 weeks
Anxiety will be assessed using the the 2-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-2). The 2 questions are: Over the past 2 weeks how often have you been bothered by the following problems: (1) Feeling nervous, anxious or on edge, and (2) Not being able to stop or control worrying. Responses range from 0 to 3 where 0=Not at all, to 3=Nearly everyday. Scores are added and can range from 0 to 6, with higher scores reflecting greater anxiety.
Baseline, 6 weeks
Anxiety at 6 months
Time Frame: 6 months
Anxiety will be assessed using the the 2-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-2). The 2 questions are: Over the past 2 weeks how often have you been bothered by the following problems: (1) Feeling nervous, anxious or on edge, and (2) Not being able to stop or control worrying. Responses range from 0 to 3 where 0=Not at all, to 3=Nearly everyday. Scores are added and can range from 0 to 6, with higher scores reflecting greater anxiety.
6 months
Anxiety at 12 months
Time Frame: 12 months
Anxiety will be assessed using the the 2-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-2). The 2 questions are: Over the past 2 weeks how often have you been bothered by the following problems: (1) Feeling nervous, anxious or on edge, and (2) Not being able to stop or control worrying. Responses range from 0 to 3 where 0=Not at all, to 3=Nearly everyday. Scores are added and can range from 0 to 6, with higher scores reflecting greater anxiety.
12 months
Participant distress from cancer risk assessment (test-specific distress) at 6 weeks
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Using the Multidimensional Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment (MICRA) distress subscale, the investigators will assess perceptions of distress resulting from learning genetic test results. The distress subscale has 6 items, each scored on a 4 point scale, with higher scores reflecting greater distress.
6 weeks
Participant distress from cancer risk assessment (test-specific distress) at 6 months
Time Frame: 6 months
Using the Multidimensional Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment (MICRA) distress subscale, the investigators will assess perceptions of distress resulting from learning genetic test results. The distress subscale has 6 items, each scored on a 4 point scale, with higher scores reflecting greater distress.
6 months
Participant distress from cancer risk assessment (test-specific distress) at 12 months
Time Frame: 12 months
Using the Multidimensional Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment (MICRA) distress subscale, the investigators will assess perceptions of distress resulting from learning genetic test results. The distress subscale has 6 items, each scored on a 4 point scale, with higher scores reflecting greater distress.
12 months
Participant uncertainty from cancer risk assessment at 6 weeks
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Using the Multidimensional Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment (MICRA) uncertainty subscale, the investigators will assess perceptions of uncertainty resulting from learning genetic test results. Then uncertainty subscale has 9 items, each scored on a 4 point scale, with higher scores reflecting greater uncertainty.
6 weeks
Participant uncertainty from cancer risk assessment at 6 months
Time Frame: 6 months
Using the Multidimensional Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment (MICRA) uncertainty subscale, the investigators will assess perceptions of uncertainty resulting from learning genetic test results. Then uncertainty subscale has 9 items, each scored on a 4 point scale, with higher scores reflecting greater uncertainty.
6 months
Participant uncertainty from cancer risk assessment at 12 months
Time Frame: 12 months
Using the Multidimensional Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment (MICRA) uncertainty subscale, the investigators will assess perceptions of uncertainty resulting from learning genetic test results. Then uncertainty subscale has 9 items, each scored on a 4 point scale, with higher scores reflecting greater uncertainty.
12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Boston University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
University of Washington
MGH Institute of Health Professions

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Catharine Wang, PhD, BU School of Public Health

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 6, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 31, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 21, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 26, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 29, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 31, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • H-40045
  • R01MD014312 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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