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Comparison of Telegenetics to Counseling via a Novel Genetic Information Assistant in High-Risk Cancer Patients

Trial Status: active

This clinical trial compares how well telegenetics to counseling via a novel genetic information assistant in high-risk cancer patients. Genetic screening is the process used to identify people who are at high risk to have a gene that makes them susceptible to a disease. Currently, when patients receive genetic testing results that may affect their relatives with a similar risk, they are given a standard paper letter to provide to family members. The letter explains the patient’s testing results, and describes the family member’s possible risks for cancer. Other education about the genetic result and genetic testing is left to the patient when discussing these results with family members. Chatbots, also known as conversation agents, are computer programs designed to have conversations with humans. Genetic Information Assistant (GIA) is a Chatbot designed as a tool for patients to use for sharing genetic results, education, and genetic counseling resources to their family members after they have received a genetic result that may affect family members. Researchers want to find out if two different methods of providing counseling, either from GIA or from a University of Virginia (UVA) genetic counselor, may be more useful in a rural setting to better educate and increase screening among high-risk cancer patients.