Implementation of a Collaborative Model Provides Efficient Oncogenetic Services for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer

Results of the C-MOnGene study support the adoption of a collaborative oncogenetic model that provides flexible, patient-centered, and efficient genetic counseling and testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and serves as an example for other institutions to incorporate these aspects into their oncology care.

To meet the demand for genetic counseling and testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, an innovative and collaborative oncogenetic service delivery model was developed that sought to optimize efficiency and uptake of existing opportunities. The Collaborative Model in OncoGenetics (C MOnGene) study was designed to gain insights into the context in which the model was developed and implemented, and document the lessons that can be learned to optimize the delivery of oncogenetic services in other settings.

The oncogenetic model was developed and implemented at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec, Canada. The model emphasized the incorporation of an interdisciplinary oncogenetic team throughout the care trajectory and extended the role of health professionals who are not specialized in genetics. Nurse navigators and clinical oncology nurses trained in oncogenetics worked in collaboration with genetic counselors to identify people likely to benefit from a genetic test, obtained their informed consent, provided genetic counseling, and ordered testing. Genetic group counseling of 15 to 25 people was preferred to individual counseling. The model also prioritized collaboration between institutions, making it possible to better equip primary and secondary healthcare centers of the network.

Adoption of this model for 3 years resulted in double the annual number of patients seen in genetic counseling. This was accompanied by a significant reduction in the average number of days between genetic counseling and disclosure of test results. Group counseling sessions resulted in an improvement in participants’ knowledge of breast cancer and genetics. Moreover, the majority of patients indicated that they were satisfied with the genetic counseling and testing initiative.

Based on these results, the investigators concluded that the adoption of this collaborative oncogenetic model provides flexible, patient-centered, and efficient genetic counseling and testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and serves as an example that other institutions can incorporate into their oncology care.

Source: Lapointe J, Dorval M, Chiquette J, et al. A collaborative model to implement flexible, accessible and efficient oncogenetic services for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer: the C-MOnGene study. Cancers (Basel). 2021;13:2729.