The experiences and needs of Australian medical oncologists in integrating comprehensive genomic profiling into clinical care: A nation-wide survey
Publication Details
Thavaneswaran, S.,
Ballinger, M.,
Butow, P.,
Meiser, B.,
Goldstein, D.,
Lin, F.,
Napier, C.,
Thomas, D.,
&
Best, M.
(2021).
The experiences and needs of Australian medical oncologists in integrating comprehensive genomic profiling into clinical care: A nation-wide survey.
Oncotarget, 12, 2169-2176.
Abstract
Purpose: Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) is increasingly used to guide cancer therapy. This study aimed to characterise oncologists’ experiences and needs when utilising genomic results.
Materials and Methods: An electronic survey distributed nation-wide to practising medical oncologists in Australia explored oncologists’ experiences with consenting, interpreting and communicating CGP results to patients.
Results: The survey was completed by 108 of 333 oncologists (32%) and most respondents (n = 97, 90%) had referred patients for CGP. Using a 100-point visual analogue scale score [VAS], where higher values indicate greater confidence, most oncologists were confident consenting patients for referral [median 75 (Interquartile range, IQR: 53–85), discussing CGP results (median VAS: 70, IQR: 51–80), but significantly less confident discussing secondary germline findings (median VAS: 56, IQR 30–70, p < 0.001). Confidence with pursuing therapies based on CGP results increased with clinical experience (mean VAS increases by 4.8 per 5 years of experience, p < 0.001). Most oncologists (N = 68, 63%) reported wanting assistance with interpretation of CGP and patient-centric resources to aid communication with patients.
Conclusions: Oncologists are integrating genomics into clinical care, but only display moderate confidence in communication and changing management accordingly. The development of patient- and clinician- targeted resources may assist with routine utilisation of CGP results in cancer care.
Keywords
cross-sectional survey, cancer treatment, comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP), utilising genomic results
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