Internet-based risk assessment and decision support for the management of familial cancer in primary care: a survey of GPs' attitudes and intentions.

BACKGROUND Computer decision support systems have been proposed as a suitable method to enable primary care practitioners to manage familial cancer and advise about other developments in clinical genetics. OBJECTIVE To investigate GPs' preferences, attitudes and intentions regarding the use of Genetic Risk Assessment on the Internet and Decision Support (GRAIDS) in clinical practice. METHODS GPs were recruited through a physician Internet portal for UK GPs (www.ukpractice.net). Electronic questionnaires assessed the respondents' current practice regarding family history taking and risk assessment, preferences about particular attributes of GRAIDS, intentions to use GRAIDS for familial cancer management and factors associated with these intentions. RESULTS Two hundred and sixty-eight GPs completed the electronic survey (adjusted response rate = 51.2%). Seventy-two GPs participated in a telephone survey of non-respondents (adjusted response rate = 63%). Ninety-two per cent of respondents in the electronic survey and 68% in the telephone survey stated that they would be either extremely or fairly likely to use GRAIDS. Intentions were associated with positive attitudes toward GRAIDS, beliefs that colleagues and patients would find the tool acceptable, perceived control and perceived confidence about conducting risk assessment and making appropriate decisions about patient management. Key attributes for the implementation of GRAIDS in practice were the authoritativeness of the guideline, easy user interface, the validity and reliability of risk estimation and specific advice about patient management. CONCLUSION GP users of the physician portal www.ukpractice.net value GRAIDS as an aid for the management of familial cancer in primary care. These Internet-literate GPs are likely to be early adopters of GRAIDS in clinical practice and could be important in promoting the use of such technology to support high quality advice about genetic issues in primary care.

[1]  Andrew S. Coulson,et al.  Computer support for recording and interpreting family histories of breast and ovarian cancer in primary care (RAGs): qualitative evaluation with simulated patients , 1999, BMJ.

[2]  C. Fischbacher,et al.  Health surveys via the Internet: Quick and dirty or rapid and robust? , 2000, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.

[3]  A. Faulkner,et al.  General practitioners' use of guidelines in the consultation and their attitudes to them. , 1999, The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

[4]  M. Bloor,et al.  Communication about risk: the responses of primary care professionals to standardizing the 'language of risk' and communication tools. , 1998, Family practice.

[5]  Jeffery R. Botkin,et al.  Genetics in Primary Care: A USA Faculty Development Initiative , 2002, Public Health Genomics.

[6]  J Emery,et al.  The challenge of integrating genetic medicine into primary care , 2001, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[7]  S. Pauker,et al.  Implications for clinical services in Britain and the United States , 1998 .

[8]  R. Lakeman,et al.  Using the Internet for data collection in nursing research. , 1997, Computers in nursing.

[9]  H. Harris,et al.  Genetics in primary care. Report on workshop of EC Concerted Action on Genetics Services in Europe (CAGSE) in association with the Royal College of GP Spring Meeting, Blackpool, UK, 28 April 1995. , 1996, Journal of medical genetics.

[10]  J Austoker,et al.  Computer support for interpreting family histories of breast and ovarian cancer in primary care: comparative study with simulated cases , 2000, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[11]  E. Rogers,et al.  Diffusion of innovations , 1964, Encyclopedia of Sport Management.