Developing genetic counseling for male BRCA1/2 mutation carriers based on their own experiences

Abstract

Background: Previous studies of genetic counseling (GC) for male BRCA1/2 mutation carriers have focused on their level of satisfaction with the GC and its content. The aim of this study was to examine the GC experiences of male BRCA1/2 mutation carriers, and their suggestions for improving GC, more broadly.

Methods: Data were collected by themed interviews of Finnish male BRCA1/2 mutation carriers (n = 31), and subjected to inductive content analysis.

Results: The results indicated that the participants had a mixture of both positive and negative experiences of GC regarding operational conditions at Departments of Clinical Genetics (DCGs) and the ability of the counselors’ (clinical geneticists or genetic nurses) to provide GC. Although the GC was implemented in a professional manner, according to the male participants, more concreate and illustrative information should be provided, and the counselors should receive additional training to provide such information and improve their communication skills.

Conclusions: Based on results of the study we make some suggestions for tailored GC for male BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. The results may facilitate development of a tentative model of GC that could be extended to broader categories of people at risk of hereditary cancer syndromes in the future.