Genetic assessment wait time indicators in the High Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program

Abstract

Background: The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) expanded in July 2011 to screen high-risk women aged 30–69 with annual MRI and mammography. This study evaluated wait time (WT) indicators along the genetic assessment (GA) pathway for women referred to the High Risk OBSP. Methods: Information was collected for 27,170 women referred to the High Risk OBSP from July 2011 to June 2015 and followed for GA until June 2016. Median duration (days), interquartile range (IQR) were measured for each WT indicator by program year, age, prior breast cancer, and risk criteria. Results: Among 24,811 women who completed GA, 16,367 (66.0%) had genetic counseling only, 8,444 (34.0%) had counseling and testing and 8,027 (32.4%) met the high risk criteria. Median WT from physician visit to first screen was longer for women having genetic counseling only compared to those having counseling and testing (244 vs. 197 days). Women having counseling only also experienced the longest WT from physician visit to genetic counseling (88 days; IQR = 10–174), which increased by year from 71 to 100 days (p