The investigators will evaluate the feasibility of an intervention to improve Lynch syndrome cascade screening uptake. The investigators will conduct a pilot study among 15 patients diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome and 5 genetic counselors to assess the feasibility and intermediate outcomes of an educational workbook containing exercises and resources to improve family communication among individuals with Lynch Syndrome and first-degree relatives of individuals with Lynch Syndrome.
Genetic counselors of patients with Lynch Syndrome and patients with Lynch Syndrome will test a planning tool (referred to as an educational workbook) for cascade screening. Five genetic counselors and 15 patients with Lynch Syndrome will be recruited from the UNC Health System and the Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center. Genetic counselors will identify patients with Lynch Syndrome and introduce the study opportunity to potential patient participants. All patients and genetic counselors will complete a telephone enrollment call and provide informed consent to participate. Enrolled patients will work with enrolled genetic counselors to complete the first workbook exercise and then patients will complete the remaining exercises alone for over approximately 1 month. After genetic counselors and patients have completed using the workbook, the investigators will conduct qualitative virtual interviews over Zoom and a post-intervention electronic survey to understand the participants' experiences using the workbook. The investigators aim to understand the feasibility of using the workbook as an intervention in clinical practice to improve genetic testing uptake in families with Lynch Syndrome.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
20
Let's Talk is an educational workbook on Lynch Syndrome and the benefits of cascade screening containing a series of lessons and activities on the following topics: What is Lynch Syndrome? Why should a patient tell a patient's family members about Lynch Syndrome? Create a list of the patient's first-degree relatives at risk for inheriting Lynch Syndrome What should a patient tell family members about Lynch Syndrome? Create a script for the patient to use in discussing Lynch Syndrome with family What are common concerns the patient might hear from family members? How should the patient tell family members about Lynch Syndrome? Create a plan and goals for the patient to reach out to family members What the patient should do if conversation with family is difficult What are common terms and questions about Lynch Syndrome? How can the patient manage having Lynch Syndrome? Where can the patient find additional information about living with Lynch Syndrome?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Acceptability of Workbook Assessed Through Likert Score Scale
Participants evaluated the workbook using seven acceptability criteria rated on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1 indicated "Strongly Disagree" and 5 indicated "Strongly Agree." The criteria assessed ease of use, clarity of exercises, enjoyment, usefulness for understanding Lynch Syndrome, support for communicating genetic information, time acceptability, and overall satisfaction. Each participant's responses were summed up to produce a total acceptability score ranging from 7 to 35, with higher scores indicating greater acceptability. A score of 28 or higher (80% of the maximum score, which was 35) was defined as an acceptable intervention.
Time frame: Post 4 Weeks of Workbook Use
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