Table 2.

Physicians’ Reported Practice Patterns When Providing Genetic Testing

Practice Pattern	% of Physicians (N = 611)
Counseling
Schedules specific visits for counseling
Always	41.9
Usually	17.5
Sometimes	31.3
Never	9.0
Unknown	0.3
Total No. of minutes of counseling before BRCA1/2 testing
≤ 30	47.0
31-60	35.8
> 60	16.0
Unknown	1.2
Staff member(s) counseling
Physician only	33.7
Physician assisted by genetic counselor/nurse geneticist/NP/PA	35.4
Physician assisted by other counselor	26.7
Unknown	4.3
Practice bills for professional time associated with counseling	60.9
When counseling patients before testing, always or usually discusses the following:
Benefits and limitations of close surveillance	92.0
Benefits and limitations of prophylactic mastectomy	83.8
Benefits and limitations of prophylactic oophorectomy	82.2
Possibility of a psychological reaction	81.0
Sharing test result with family members	88.1
Confidentiality and privacy issues	91.3
Providing results
Inform patients of positive results
In person	74.0
By phone	23.2
By mail	0.5
Missing	2.3
Inform patients of variant results
In person	65.8
By phone	29.0
By mail	1.2
Missing	4.1
Inform patients of negative results
In person	50.8
By phone	45.5
By mail	2.1
Missing	1.6
Documents results of tests in medical record
Always	62.2
Usually	15.9
Sometimes	11.5
Never	8.2
Missing	2.3

Abbreviations: NP, nurse practitioner; PA, physician assistant.