Computer program may help in assessing genetic risk of cancer in primary care

General practitioners are under increasing pressure to advise patients about genetic risk. Computers could support genetic advice in primary care by simplifying the construction and assessment of family trees, and implementing referral guidelines. Emery et al (p 32) report an evaluation, using simulated patients, of RAGs (risk assessment in genetics), a computer program for drawing pedigrees and assessing cancer risk in primary care. Fifteen general practitioners thought RAGs was an appropriate application of information technology because of the complexity of cancer genetics and the perceived "guideline chaos" in primary care. Most doctors found RAGs easy to use, but it had the potential to affect their control of the consultation. This resulted from their desire to share the computer screen and thus limit the impact of the computer on communication with the patient.

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Computer support for recording and interpreting family histories of breast and ovarian cancer in primary care (RAGs): qualitative evaluation with simulated patients

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