title: Randomized trial of a specialist genetic assessment service for familial breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because of the growing demand for genetic assessment, there is an urgent need for information about what services are appropriate for women with a family history of breast cancer. Our purpose was to compare the psychologic impact and costs of a multidisciplinary genetic and surgical assessment service with those of current service provisions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a prospective randomized trial of surgical consultation with (the trial group) and without (the control group) genetic assessment in 1000 women with a family history of breast cancer. All P: values are from two-sided tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although statistically significantly greater improvement in knowledge about breast cancer was found in the trial group (P: =.05), differences between groups in other psychologic outcomes were not statistically significant. Women in both groups experienced statistically significant reductions in anxiety and found attending the clinics to be highly satisfying. An initial specialist genetic assessment cost pound 14.27 (U.S. $22.55) more than a consultation with a breast surgeon. Counseling and genetic testing of affected relatives, plus subsequent testing of family members of affected relatives identified as mutation carriers, raised the total extra direct and indirect costs per woman in the trial group to pound 60.98 (U.S. $96.35) over costs for the control subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There may be little benefit in providing specialist genetics services to all women with a family history of breast cancer. Further investigation of factors that may mediate the impact of genetic assessment is in progress and may reveal subgroups of women who would benefit from specialist genetics services.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK. brainke@cardiff.ac.uk
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brain
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: France
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Anglim
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sweetland
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tischkowitz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Myring
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stansfield
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gower-Thomas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Daoud
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gateley
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Monypenny
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Singhal
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Branston
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sampson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Newcombe
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mansel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Harper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000191:economics* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D014852:Wales