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Hereditary Breast and Ovarian CancerBWHS RoRNCT04407611

Scalable Communication Modalities for Returning Genetic Research Results

A study testing Online modality and Genetic counselor follow-up in people with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer and Lynch Syndrome, run by Boston University at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Efforts to examine the utility of alternate modalities for genetic results disclosure has widespread implications for how precision medicine research might yield direct health benefits for study participants. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 40 years and older, women only
What is being tested?
Online modality and Genetic counselor follow-up
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
926 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
6 Mar 2023to 31 Mar 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 40 years and older
  • Women only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • -Women in the BWHS previously included in the targeted breast cancer sequencing project

Who cannot join

  • Women with known cognitive impairments
  • Women with variant of uncertain significance (VUS) results from the sequencing study

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • BU School of Public Health, the research is being conducted remotely

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02118

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Testing Scalable Communication Modalities for Returning Breast Cancer Genetic Research Results to African American Women

Efforts to examine the utility of alternate modalities for genetic results disclosure has widespread implications for how precision medicine research might yield direct health benefits for study participants. This study will examine the efficacy of an online self-guided program to return genetic results to a racial minority cohort population. Study results will provide empirical evidence on the effectiveness of alternate modalities for genetic results return, inform ongoing efforts to establish scalable approaches for effective return of genetic research results, and increase access to personal health information among African American women.

Read the detailed description

This study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) within the Black Women's Health Study (BWHS) to test alternate communication modalities for results disclosure. The BWHS is an ongoing prospective cohort study of 59,000 self-identified black women from across the United States who have been followed since 1995. Targeted sequencing of over 4000 women within the cohort for BRCA1/2 and other known or suspected high and moderate penetrance genes opens up the possibility of returning breast cancer genetic results to BWHS participants and examining the clinical utility of genetic results return. The primary aim of the proposed research project is to compare the efficacy of two communication modalities for returning breast cancer genetic research results to African American women: 1) a conventional modality that entails telephone disclosure by a licensed genetic counselor, and 2) an online self-guided modality that entails returning results directly to participants, with optional genetic counselor follow-up via telephone. Secondary aims of this study will examine 1) moderators of the intervention impact and 2) psychosocial, sociodemographic, and clinical predictors of result uptake. This study is uniquely situated to provide critical empirical evidence on the effectiveness of alternate models for genetic results return and provide further insight into the factors influencing uptake of genetic information among African American women.

Being tested
Online modality, Genetic counselor follow-up
Keywords
BRCA testing, Return of genetic research results, eHealth, Digital health, Risk communication, ELSI
Medical subject headings
Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome, Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Online modalityBehavioural

    Also called Web modality

    Return of BRCA results directly online or return of printed BRCA results if participant cannot access online or chooses not to

  • Genetic counselor follow-upBehavioural

    Optional genetic counselor follow-up over the telephone

Study groups in NCT04407611
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Conventional modalityNo interventionControl arm. Conventional modality entails telephone disclosure of genetic results by a licensed genetic counselor.
Online modalityExperimentalOnline self-guided modality entails return of genetic results directly to participants, with optional genetic counselor follow-up via telephone.
Receives: Behavioral: Online modality; Behavioral: Genetic counselor follow-up

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Number of participant that decide to learn genetic results at 6 weeks

    Decisions about learning genetic results for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer will be monitored and recorded in the electronic study database system.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  2. Number of participant that decide to learn genetic results at 6 months

    Decisions about learning genetic results for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer will be monitored and recorded in the electronic study database system.

    Measured: 6 months

  3. Change from baseline in breast cancer genetics knowledge based on questionnaire at responses at 6 weeks

    Knowledge about breast cancer genetics will be assessed using an investigator derived questionnaire consisting of 16 items. Higher scores out of ten are associated with more genetics knowledge.

    Measured: Baseline, 6 weeks

  4. Change in baseline depression at 6 weeks

    Depression will be assessed using the the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2). The 2 questions are: Over the past 2 weeks have you been bothered by: (1) Little interest or pleasure in doing things, and (2) Feeling down, depressed or hopeless. Responses range from 0 to 3 where 0=Not at all, to 3=Nearly everyday. Scores are added and can range from 0 to 6, with higher scores reflecting greater depression.

    Measured: Baseline, 6 weeks

  5. Depression at 6 months

    Depression will be assessed using the the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2). The 2 questions are: Over the past 2 weeks have you been bothered by: (1) Little interest or pleasure in doing things, and (2) Feeling down, depressed or hopeless. Responses range from 0 to 3 where 0=Not at all, to 3=Nearly everyday. Scores are added and can range from 0 to 6, with higher scores reflecting greater depression.

    Measured: 6 months

  6. Depression at 12 months

    Depression will be assessed using the the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2). The 2 questions are: Over the past 2 weeks have you been bothered by: (1) Little interest or pleasure in doing things, and (2) Feeling down, depressed or hopeless. Responses range from 0 to 3 where 0=Not at all, to 3=Nearly everyday. Scores are added and can range from 0 to 6, with higher scores reflecting greater depression.

    Measured: 12 months

  7. Change in baseline anxiety at 6 weeks

    Anxiety will be assessed using the the 2-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-2). The 2 questions are: Over the past 2 weeks how often have you been bothered by the following problems: (1) Feeling nervous, anxious or on edge, and (2) Not being able to stop or control worrying. Responses range from 0 to 3 where 0=Not at all, to 3=Nearly everyday. Scores are added and can range from 0 to 6, with higher scores reflecting greater anxiety.

    Measured: Baseline, 6 weeks

  8. Anxiety at 6 months

    Anxiety will be assessed using the the 2-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-2). The 2 questions are: Over the past 2 weeks how often have you been bothered by the following problems: (1) Feeling nervous, anxious or on edge, and (2) Not being able to stop or control worrying. Responses range from 0 to 3 where 0=Not at all, to 3=Nearly everyday. Scores are added and can range from 0 to 6, with higher scores reflecting greater anxiety.

    Measured: 6 months

  9. Anxiety at 12 months

    Anxiety will be assessed using the the 2-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-2). The 2 questions are: Over the past 2 weeks how often have you been bothered by the following problems: (1) Feeling nervous, anxious or on edge, and (2) Not being able to stop or control worrying. Responses range from 0 to 3 where 0=Not at all, to 3=Nearly everyday. Scores are added and can range from 0 to 6, with higher scores reflecting greater anxiety.

    Measured: 12 months

  10. Participant distress from cancer risk assessment (test-specific distress) at 6 weeks

    Using the Multidimensional Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment (MICRA) distress subscale, the investigators will assess perceptions of distress resulting from learning genetic test results. The distress subscale has 6 items, each scored on a 4 point scale, with higher scores reflecting greater distress.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  11. Participant distress from cancer risk assessment (test-specific distress) at 6 months

    Using the Multidimensional Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment (MICRA) distress subscale, the investigators will assess perceptions of distress resulting from learning genetic test results. The distress subscale has 6 items, each scored on a 4 point scale, with higher scores reflecting greater distress.

    Measured: 6 months

  12. Participant distress from cancer risk assessment (test-specific distress) at 12 months

    Using the Multidimensional Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment (MICRA) distress subscale, the investigators will assess perceptions of distress resulting from learning genetic test results. The distress subscale has 6 items, each scored on a 4 point scale, with higher scores reflecting greater distress.

    Measured: 12 months

  13. Participant uncertainty from cancer risk assessment at 6 weeks

    Using the Multidimensional Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment (MICRA) uncertainty subscale, the investigators will assess perceptions of uncertainty resulting from learning genetic test results. Then uncertainty subscale has 9 items, each scored on a 4 point scale, with higher scores reflecting greater uncertainty.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  14. Participant uncertainty from cancer risk assessment at 6 months

    Using the Multidimensional Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment (MICRA) uncertainty subscale, the investigators will assess perceptions of uncertainty resulting from learning genetic test results. Then uncertainty subscale has 9 items, each scored on a 4 point scale, with higher scores reflecting greater uncertainty.

    Measured: 6 months

  15. Participant uncertainty from cancer risk assessment at 12 months

    Using the Multidimensional Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment (MICRA) uncertainty subscale, the investigators will assess perceptions of uncertainty resulting from learning genetic test results. Then uncertainty subscale has 9 items, each scored on a 4 point scale, with higher scores reflecting greater uncertainty.

    Measured: 12 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted29 May 2020
  2. Study start6 Mar 2023
  3. Primary completion31 Mar 2026
  4. Study completion31 Mar 2026

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Randomization to 1 of 2 study arms.
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
926 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04407611
Sponsor's protocol ID
H-40045
Other IDs
R01MD014312
Acronym
BWHS RoR
Status last verified
Mar 2026
First submitted
21 May 2020
Last updated
1 Apr 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Wang C, Bertrand KA, Trevino-Talbot M, Flynn M, Ruderman M, Cabral HJ, Bowen DJ, Hughes-Halbert C, Palmer JR. Ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) and challenges in the design of a randomized controlled trial to test the online return of cancer genetic research results to U.S. Black women. Contemp Clin Trials. 2023 Sep;132:107309. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2023.107309. Epub 2023 Jul 27.

    PubMed 37516165

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Online modality and Genetic counselor follow-up in people with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer and Lynch Syndrome, run by Boston University at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Number of participant that decide to learn genetic results at 6 weeks (time frame: 6 weeks). The study lists 15 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04407611, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Apr 2026.

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