Promoting Genetic Counseling Among African American Women With a Family History of Breast Cancer

In the United States, carriers of hereditary genetic mutations have up to an 85% risk of developing breast cancer compared to 12% in the general population. Overall uptake of genetic services is generally low, particularly among high-risk African American (AA) women, who carry a disproportionate burden of breast cancer mortality. Further, although testing close relatives of individuals who test positive for a pathogenic variant might curtail breast cancer disparities attributable to hereditary risk, it is unclear how counseled or tested individuals influence their social and familial networks. Using a randomized control trial design, the objective of this research project is to test the effectiveness of a culturally targeted video, previously developed by our research team, on promoting genetic counseling attendance among AA women determined to be at high risk for breast cancer through cancer genetic risk assessment in a clinical setting. This study will also test how psychosocial factors (knowledge, intrinsic motivation, risk perception, and distress) impact the relationships between intervention exposures (video versus brochure) and compare the impact of intervention exposures on diffusion of knowledge about genetic counseling through social network analysis.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: High Risk for Breast Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Decision aid video; Behavioral: Genetic counseling informational brochure

Detailed Description

Study Design. The investigator will conduct a randomized control trial single-blind control trial to test the effectiveness of a culturally targeted decision aid video to promote genetic counseling among African American determined to be high risk for breast cancer through cancer genetic risk assessment. Eligible patients will be randomly assigned to receive information about genetic counseling using a culturally targeted decision aid video (treatment group) or a brochure (control).

Research Protocol. As part of standard of care, patients will complete a cancer genetic risk assessment (CGRA) as part of intake on a tablet computer provided by the front desk clinic staff. CGRA results will be uploaded to the EMR, printed and given to a patient navigator. The patient navigator will approach patients, give them a recruitment flyer, information about the study, screen patients and obtain informed consent for women who choose to participate in the study. Based on computer-generated randomization (equal numbers in each arm), patients will be randomized to one of two groups to receive: 1) pretest, view decision aid video, and posttest or 2) pretest, genetic counseling brochure, and posttest. Both arms will be facilitated by patient navigators. Upon completion of posttest, patient navigators will ask women if they would like to make an appointment for genetic counseling, contact the provider for the order if not already in the EMR, make genetic counseling appointments for women who choose to attend, and monitor and collect follow-up data. All enrolled participants will receive a phone call at 4 weeks post-intervention to (a) verify counseling attendance through self-report and EMR extraction if applicable; (b) ask whether the patient was referred to genetic testing after her genetic counseling if applicable; and (c) ask whether other family members were referred to genetic services if applicable and (d) determine who in their social networks, if anyone, the participant told about genetic counseling, and if so, how this information was shared.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 80
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612
      • UIC Cancer Center
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612
      • University of Illinois at Chicago Hospital and Ambulatory Clinics

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 25 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Are female
2. Identify as African American
3. Are age 25 or older
4. Speak and understand English
5. Completed a cancer genetic risk assessment (CGRA) as part of clinic intake
6. Are classified as high risk for developing breast cancer per CGRA
7. Have not previously received genetic counseling

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Are not female
2. Do not identify as African American
3. Are age 24 or younger
4. Do not speak and understand English
5. Did not complete a cancer genetic risk assessment (CGRA) as part of clinic intake
6. Are not classified as high risk for developing breast cancer per CGRA
7. Have previously received genetic counseling

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Decision aid video; Participants receiving the intervention will complete a pretest, watch the decision aid video, and complete posttest via tablet computer facilitated by Patient Navigators.	Behavioral: Decision aid video; Decision aid video
Active Comparator: Genetic counseling informational brochure; Participants receiving the control will complete pretest, review a genetic counseling brochure with the Patient Navigators, and complete posttest via tablet computer facilitated by a Patient Navigator.	Behavioral: Genetic counseling informational brochure; Genetic counseling informational brochure

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Genetic Counseling Attendance	Compare the effects of intervention vs. control arm on genetic counseling attendance among African American women recommended for genetic counseling through cancer genetic risk assessment. Assessed via EMR and survey at follow-up. 2-item (Did patient complete genetic counseling appointment? A) Self-report and B) EMR) 1 items assessing familial referral to genetic counseling or testing	52 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Decision Aid Usability	5-item agreement likert scale to assess usability, satisfaction, decisional conflict (e.g., I felt I could relate to what the actors were saying?) Assessed via survey at immediate posttest	52 weeks
Knowledge about Genetic Counseling	Items to assess changes in knowledge about genetic counseling for breast cancer risk between pre and post intervention; (e.g., A purpose of genetic counseling is to help people understand their options for genetic testing.) Relevant items from published instrument (Maio) and Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowerment (FORCE) brochure (control arm brochure) adapted for genetic counseling for breast cancer. Assessed via survey at pretest and posttest.	52 weeks
Distress Associated with Genetic Counseling and Breast Cancer Risk	Items to assess patient worry/anxiety related to genetic counseling and breast cancer risk; (e.g., How often have you thought about your chances of getting cancer?) 7-item Cancer Worry Scale Assessed via survey at pretest and posttest.	52 weeks
Intrinsic Motivation for Genetic Counseling Attendance	Items to assess motivation for genetic counseling attendance (e.g., The reason I would attend genetic counseling is because I feel that I want to take responsibility for my own health.) 15-item Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire and 4-item Self-Efficacy Scale Assessed via survey at pretest and posttest.	52 weeks
Risk Perception Associated with Breast Cancer	Items to assess perception of risk related to getting breast cancer (In your opinion, compared to other women your age, what are your chances of getting breast cancer?) 1-item question obtained from published instrument. Assessed via survey at pretest and posttest.	52 weeks
Diffusion of Knowledge	Items to assess sharing of knowledge among social and familial networks about genetic counseling. Diffusion of knowledge will be assessed by collecting data on social network size, composition, density, and information sharing related to genetic counseling and risks. Relevant social network assessment items-General Social Survey. Examples: Name generator: (From time to time, most people discuss important matters with other people. Looking back over the past month, who are the people with whom you discussed genetic counseling or genetic risks?; Name interpreter: (e.g., What is relationship between you and X?) Assessed at 4 week follow-up	56 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Illinois at Chicago
• Collaborators: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Kent Hoskins, MD, University of Illinois at Chicago

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 6, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): May 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 1, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 4, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): May 7, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 24, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 22, 2025
• Last Verified: August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Skin Diseases; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2020-0342; K01CA248852-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No