title: Peer support and additional information in group medical consultations (GMCs) for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Group medical consultations (GMCs) provide individual medical visits in the presence of ≤ 7 peer- patients. This study evaluated the efficacy of GMCs in the yearly breast cancer surveillance of BRCA mutation carriers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized controlled trial compared GMCs (intervention group, n = 63) with individual medical visits (control group, n = 59). Between-group differences on the primary outcomes distress and empowerment, were analyzed one week and three months after the visit. Feasibility is evaluated in terms of demand, acceptability and practicability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No between-group differences were found on primary outcomes. More themes were discussed in GMCs. Seventy-five percent of GMC-participants experienced peer support. Carriers reported significantly higher satisfaction with individual visits. GMCs were less time-efficient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first GMC study which reports results in favor of individual visits. The hereditary nature of the condition differentiates our study population from earlier studied GMC groups. Even though most participants experienced peer support and received more information, the lower patient satisfaction may be explained by the lack of individual time with the clinician and disruption of normal surveillance routines. As the need for peer support and additional information is present in a substantial part of carriers, future research should study the process of peer support.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical Psychology , Radboud university medical center , Nijmegen , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Annemiek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical Oncology , Radboud university medical center , Nijmegen , the Netherlands.|c Department of Medical Oncology , Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hanneke W M
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: van Laarhoven
authors.affiliation: d Department of Genetics , Radboud university medical center , Nijmegen , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gwendolyn H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Woldringh
authors.affiliation: d Department of Genetics , Radboud university medical center , Nijmegen , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nicoline
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hoogerbrugge
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical Psychology , Radboud university medical center , Nijmegen , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Judith B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Prins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010379:Peer Group; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012944:Social Support
chemical_list: D019313:BRCA1 Protein; C492913:BRCA1 protein, human; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; C551750:BRCA2 protein, human