Project CARE: Hereditary cancer risk checks in primary care
Project CARE: CAncer Risk Evaluation (CARE)
This project will test whether sending primary care patients a chatbot link can identify people at high hereditary cancer risk and connect them to genetic counseling and testing.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 210 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (New Brunswick, New Jersey) |
| Trial ID | NCT07130487 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Rutgers Health will use EPIC to identify adult patients seen in family medicine or general internal medicine and invite them by email or text to consent and use a Relational Agent (chatbot) through the patient portal for cancer risk questions and genetic education. The chatbot collects family and personal history to flag patients at high hereditary cancer risk, and those flagged will be offered genetic counseling and testing. The study will measure how many patients complete the chatbot, how many are identified as high risk, and uptake of genetic services, plus feasibility and patient acceptance of the proactive digital outreach. Recruitment is limited to English-speaking patients aged 18–70 with internet access who receive care at Rutgers primary care sites and have not had prior germline cancer testing or a personal cancer history.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-speaking adults aged 18–70 who received care in Rutgers family or general internal medicine within the past two years, have internet access and contact info in EPIC/MyChart, and no prior germline cancer testing or personal cancer history.
Not a fit: Patients with a personal history of cancer, prior germline genetic testing, dementia, no internet access, or who are not English speakers are unlikely to benefit from this outreach model.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase identification of people with hereditary cancer risk in primary care and streamline timely access to genetic counseling and testing.
How similar studies have performed: Digital risk tools and chatbot-based genetic education have shown promise in improving knowledge and uptake, but proactive, study-initiated outreach for hereditary cancer risk in primary care remains relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria 1. Age 18 to 70 years 2. Able to read and speak English 3. Have an email address or mobile phone number in EPIC and/or are enrolled in MyChart 4. Receiving health care in Family Medicine or General Internal Medicine at Rutgers Health within the past 2 years 5. Have not opted out of receiving research-related communications 6. Have internet access (via smartphone, tablet, or computer) Exclusion Criteria 1. Dementia (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) as indicated in EPIC 2. Unable to access the Internet (via smartphone, tablet, or computer) 3. Previous germline genetic testing for hereditary cancer risk 4. Opted out of research participation in EPIC 5. Have a personal history of cancer
Where this trial is running
New Brunswick, New Jersey
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey — New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Anita Y Kinney, PhD, RN — Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- Study coordinator: Julie Chapman-Greene, PhD, MPH
- Email: chapmaje@cinj.rutgers.edu
- Phone: 732-865-3375
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.