Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41591469›Full record

ArticleJournal of cancer research and clinical oncology2026

Not all information is equally important: informed consent to genetic testing for hereditary cancer.

Paula Thomas, Sven Asmussen, Katharina Klein, Nicolas Straub, Stephanie Stegen, Christoph Kowalski, Stephen Schüürhuis, Dorothee Speiser, Markus A Feufel, Friederike Kendel

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Paula ThomasDepartment of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité-University Medical Center Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany. paula.thomas@charite.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-4270-3896
Sven AsmussenFaculty of Law, Chair of Civil Law (Prof Dr Gerhard Wagner), Commercial Law and Economics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099, Berlin, Germany.
Katharina KleinHereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Center, Charité-University Medical Center Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10177, Berlin, Germany.
Nicolas StraubFaculty of Law, Chair of Civil Law (Prof Dr Gerhard Wagner), Commercial Law and Economics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099, Berlin, Germany.
Stephanie StegenBRCA-Netzwerk e. V., Thomas-Mann-Str. 40, 53111, Bonn, Germany.
Christoph KowalskiDeutsche Krebsgesellschaft e. V., Kuno-Fischer-Straße 8, 14057, Berlin, Germany.
Stephen SchüürhuisInstitute of Biometry and Clinical Epidemiology, Charité-University Medical Center Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10177, Berlin, Germany.
Dorothee SpeiserHereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Center, Charité-University Medical Center Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10177, Berlin, Germany.
Markus A FeufelDepartment of Psychology and Ergonomics (IPA), Division of Ergonomics, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany.
Friederike KendelDepartment of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité-University Medical Center Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeInformed consent in medical care is supposed to guarantee patient autonomy. However, in practice, written consent is often inadequate for this purpose: In an effort to meet legal requirements, consent forms are often comprehensive and complex. They cover all information that could potentially be relevant, possibly overwhelming patients rather than addressing their concerns. Thus, there is an urgent need for more patient-centered consent forms. As a first step toward this goal, this study assessed the importance of various aspects of consent to genetic testing from the patients' perspective.

methodsA cross-sectional online study was conducted with 224 participants at elevated risk for hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer. Participants rated the importance of 14 aspects typically covered on the consent form. Each aspect was compared with all other aspects using multiple contrast tests for repeated measures. Participants also provided hypothetical consent to each aspect. Voluntary comments to the consent aspects were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

resultsAlthough the majority of consent aspects were rated important in absolute terms, we observed relative differences. Specifically, consent aspects reflecting a clinical benefit for the patient and her family were rated as more important relative to all other aspects. This included, for example, consent to receiving additional test results which could imply further clinical consequences.

conclusionOur results may inform the communication between patients and their counseling physicians prior to genetic testing. They also provide an empirical basis for revising consent forms to better align with patients' needs while remaining legally sound.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsGenetic TestingInformed ConsentOvarian NeoplasmsAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleGenetic CounselingGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseHumansMaleMiddle AgedReturn of Individual Research ResultsData protectionGenetic counselingHereditary diseasesInformed consentPatient-Centered carePersonal genetic information

Identifiers

PMID41591469
PMCPMC12847596

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LicenceCC BY
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.