Tomoharu Tokutomi
   Department   Kawasaki Medical School  Kawasaki Medical School, Department of Pediatrics,
   Position   Professor with Special Assignment
Article types 原著
Language English
Peer review Peer reviewed
Title Recontact: a survey of current practices and BRCA1/2 testing in Japan.
Journal Formal name：Journal of human genetics
Domestic / ForeginForegin
Volume, Issue, Page 68(8),pp.551-557
Author and coauthor Tomohiro Sakaguchi,Tomoharu Tokutomi,Akiko Yoshida,Kayono Yamamoto,Keiko Obata,Daniele Carrieri,Susan E Kelly,Akimune Fukushima
Authorship Corresponding author
Publication date 2023/08
Summary Genetic testing advances have enabled the provision of previously unavailable information on the pathogenicity of genetic variants, frequently necessitating the recontact of former patients by clinicians. In Japan, national health insurance coverage was extended to BRCA1/2 testing for the diagnosis of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer for patients who meet certain criteria in 2020, and conditions necessitating recontact were expected to increase. Studies and discussions regarding recontact have been conducted in the U.S. and Europe; however, in Japan, the national discussion around recontact remains undeveloped. We conducted a cross-sectional study by interviewing 73 facilities accredited by the Japanese Organization of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer regarding the practice of recontacting patients at these facilities. Sixty-six facilities responded that they recontact patients, but only 17 facilities had a protocol for this. The most common reason for recontact was that it could benefit the patient. Facilities that did not recontact stated that they lacked the necessary personnel or services. Most facilities indicated that a recontact system should be implemented in their practice. The increased burden on too few medical personnel, unestablished systems, patient confusion, and the right not to know were cited as barriers to implementing recontact. Although developing recommendations on recontact would be useful for providing equitable healthcare in Japan, there is an urgent need to deepen the discussion on recontacting, as negative opinions about recontacting patients were observed.
DOI 10.1038/s10038-023-01149-x
PMID 37072622