(Vienna, 03 June 2025) A recent study conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at MedUni Vienna and at the Breast Health Centre of the CCC Vienna at MedUni Vienna and University Hospital Vienna, shows that the use of a video-based educational tool in genetic counselling on hereditary breast cancer significantly improves the understanding of those seeking advice. At the same time, the time spent by doctors in consultation is significantly reduced. The research results were presented by study leader Georg Pfeiler from MedUni Vienna on 2 June 2025 at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago.
The need for genetic counselling is increasing – yet many patients with a family history or increased risk of breast cancer do not currently receive this type of medical information. The reasons for this include linguistic and structural barriers, as well as limited time resources in everyday clinical practice. Against this background, researchers from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at MedUni Vienna and the Breast Health Centre at the CCC Vienna at MedUni Vienna and University Hospital Vienna developed a 16-minute video that explains the basics of genetic mutations, their health consequences and the possibilities for early detection. The content is based on the current Austrian clinical guidelines.
A total of 110 people seeking advice were included in the study. They either received a medical consultation or watched the video first and were then informed by a doctor. The results show that participants who watched the video in advance achieved significantly higher scores in the subsequent knowledge test, while the average time spent in consultation with a doctor was reduced by more than half. The subjective assessment of the comprehensibility and quality of the consultation was also consistently positive in the video group.
Based on their findings, the study authors conclude that integrating video-based information into genetic counselling not only increases efficiency but also contributes to better patient education. "This could reduce existing gaps in care in the field of genetic diagnostics and enable healthcare resources to be used more efficiently," says study leader Georg Pfeiler from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at MedUni Vienna. The use of such tools proves particularly effective when they are available in the native language of those seeking advice. The video developed at MedUni Vienna has already been translated into English, French and Serbian and further languages with the help of native speakers.
Publication:
Video-based genetic counselling to reduce physician workload and enhance consultant understanding: A prospective randomised clinical trial.
Georg Pfeiler, Muy-Kheng Tea, Michael Seifert, Florian Heinzl, Christian F. Singer, Daphne Gschwantler-Kaulich, Carmen Leser, Selina Ebner, Ella Asseryanis, Christine Deutschmann.
The study was presented on 2 June 2025 at the Annual ASCO Meeting 2025 in Chicago.