46. Cancer genetic referrals in Wales (199)
Kevin McDonald, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Health, Sport and Science, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, United Kingdom
kmcdona2@glam.ac.uk
Abstract:
Patients are referred from primary and secondary care to the Cancer Genetics Service for Wales (CGSW) for breast, ovarian, colorectal or other cancers with a genetic predisposition. The 10878 referrals made between 1998 and 2006 went to clinics in Cardiff (4992, 46%), Swansea (3212, 29%) and Rhyl (2548, 23%). Nearly 70% of all referrals are for breast and/or ovarian cancer, which helps explain why 91% of referred patients are female (0.7% of breast cancer referrals are male). Referrals are categorised according to risk, with those in the high or moderate risk categories being at greater than population risk of developing a genetic cancer. High risk referrals are more likely to come from secondary rather than primary care sources, with the opposite for moderate risk referrals (χ2=121.431, p≤0.001). In the first year, primary care accounted for 36% (115/319) of all referrals to CGSW. By the last year of this study, that had risen to nearly 57% (1002/1762), with a corresponding decrease in the percentage of referrals from secondary care. Most primary care referrals were made by GP (5622/5642), but some were made by a genetic nurse (14), nurse practitioner (2) or genetic counsellor (2). Of the 5173 secondary care referrals, nearly 1.5% were made by nurses including, breast care nurse (2), genetic counsellor (33), genetic nurse (5), Macmillan nurse (1), oncology nurse (12), palliative nurse (2), research nurse (9), stoma care nurse (1) and other nurses (8). This study has shown that while the vast majority of referrals for cancer genetics are made by medics, nurses have a role in this area too. By identifying those patients in need of referral to cancer genetics, nurses can expedite early screening and any subsequent treatments that might be required.
Source of Funding: N/A
Amount in Funding: N/A
Biography:
After working in stroke research in the NHS, Kevin moved to the University of Glamorgan in 2000 to become part of the Genomics Policy Research Unit. In his position as a Senior Lecturer, he is an active teacher and researcher. He was a grant holder on the Wellcome Trust funded 'Telling Stories, Understanding Real Life Genetics' education resource launched June 2007, and before that was project manager for the Department of Health and Welsh Assembly Government funded project to develop genetic competences for nurses, midwives and health visitors. This poster presents results arising from Kevin's PhD thesis.