title: Are videoconferenced consultations as effective as face-to-face consultations for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer genetic counseling?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Videoconferencing is increasingly used to deliver family cancer services for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer to outreach areas. This study compared the effectiveness and acceptability of genetic counseling for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer through videoconferencing (hereafter referred to as "telegenetics").
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred six women seen by telegenetics and 89 women seen face-to-face completed self-administered questionnaires before, and 1 month after, genetic counseling. Telegenetics consultations involved a genetic clinician via telegenetics in addition to a local genetic counselor present with the patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found between telegenetics and face-to-face genetic counseling in terms of knowledge gained (P = 0.55), satisfaction with the genetic counseling service (P = 0.76), cancer-specific anxiety (P = 0.13), generalized anxiety (P = 0.42), depression (P = 0.96), perceived empathy of the genetic clinician (P = 0.13), and perceived empathy of the genetic counselor (P = 0.12). Telegenetics performed significantly better than face-to-face counseling in meeting patients' expectations (P = 0.009) and promoting perceived personal control (P = 0.031).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Telegenetics seems to be an acceptable and effective method of delivering genetic counseling services for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer to underserved areas.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Australia. elvira.zilliacus@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Elvira M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Zilliacus
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meiser
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Lobb
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barlow-Stewart
authors.forename: Judy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: Alan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Spigelman
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Warwick
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Tucker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D049269:Videoconferencing