Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Introduction: Digital tools can support the delivery of genetic services, including consent, education, and results disclosure. Such tools can improve patient-reported outcomes related to decision-making, knowledge, and psychosocial well-being. However, patients' perspectives on how these tools are used to facilitate patient-centered care are not well understood. Therefore, we aimed to better understand patients' preferences towards the use of digital tools in genetic service delivery. Methods: Individuals who received genetic testing for themselves or for their child were invited to participate in an interview. Participants were asked about their experiences with and preferences for the use of digital tools in the delivery of genetic services. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the qualitative data. Results: Thirty participants were interviewed. They described previous positive experiences with digital tools in medical settings and welcomed the shift towards the increased use of these tools. Participants desired more agency over their healthcare journey and control of their health information, including their genetic test results. They imagined a 'digital binder' would allow them to input, review and share their health-related information including personal and family histories and test results. Balancing a desire for digitally enabled agency and sustained personal connections with providers, participants anticipated that digital tools could be tailored to each patient's circumstances and needs, enabling a personalized and partnered model of care. They recommended that digital tools be used as a supplement to current models of care rather than as a replacement. Conclusions: Digital tools can supplement traditional genetic service delivery and have the potential to enhance patient-centred care. However, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. These findings can inform the implementation and evaluation of digital health tools in genetics service delivery.