Using Virtual Counselors to Overcome Genetic Literacy Barriers

Boston University279 enrolled

Overview

A Relational Agent (RA) "virtual counselor" (VICKY: VIrtual Counselor for Knowing Your Family History) has been developed to collect family health history information for common health conditions including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension and various cancers. In this study, the investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to compare the efficacy of using VICKY to the existing My Family Health Portrait (MFHP) tool for collecting family health history information among an underserved primary care patient population. The primary aims of the study are to 1) evaluate the efficacy of VICKY versus MFHP for collecting accurate family health histories and 2) determine whether accuracy varies as a function of health literacy. This project will obtain validation data on the efficacy of both VICKY and MFHP for collecting accurate family history data among an underserved patient population, in two languages (English and Spanish). The study will determine whether a virtual counselor can overcome many of the existing barriers to using traditional web-based family history tools.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SCREENING

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

279

Conditions

Heart Disease Stroke Diabetes

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 21 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 21 years of age or older; * current Boston Medical Center patient - must have an upcoming returning patient appointment at Boston Medical Center or affiliated clinic within 3 months of recruitment; * speaks English and/or Spanish. Exclusion Criteria: * Under 21 years of age; * not a current patient of Boston Medical Center or affiliated clinic; * unable to speak English and/or Spanish.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Accuracy of health conditions id'd (interview w/ genetic counselor gold standard. health conditions id'd by VICKY or MFHP id'd by genetic counselor (true +) divided by health conditions captured by genetic counselor (false - plus true +)

Sensitivity will be calculated using an interview with a genetic counselor as the gold standard. Sensitivity will be defined as the health conditions identified by the family health history tool (VICKY or MFHP) that were also identified by the genetic counselor (true positive) divided by the health conditions not captured by the tool but captured by the genetic counselor (false negatives) plus the true positives.

Time frame: Computed value derived from baseline assessments of family health history (both tool and counselor-obtained histories).

Accuracy of family members identified (defined as the agreement of first and second degree relatives identified by both the tool (VICKY or MFHP) and the genetic counselor)

Accuracy of family members identified will be defined as the agreement of first and second degree relatives identified by both the tool (VICKY or MFHP) and the genetic counselor.

Time frame: Computed value derived from baseline assessments of family health history (both tool and counselor-obtained histories).

Secondary Outcomes

Family and provider communication (Communication of family health history with family members and health care providers)

Communication of family health history with family members and health care providers.

Time frame: Baseline and 3 month follow-up