Telemedicine could drive the uptake of genetic counselling in community practices, according to US researchers. More than three quarters of participants in a University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine study who were offered genetic counselling by video or phone went on to complete it, compared with 6% of patients who were given details of where to find services. The study, published online ahead of print in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that people receiving counseling from trained counsellors reported better outcomes and fewer side effects when they completed their counselling.
Telemedicine could drive the uptake of genetic counselling in community practices, according to US researchers. More than three quarters of participants in a University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine study who were offered genetic counselling by video or phone went on to complete it, compared with 6% of patients who were given details of where to find services. Dr Angela Bradbury, lead author of the study, said the research highlights how telemedicine could improve on what community care centres do on their own.