Theory‐based behavior change intervention to increase uptake of risk‐reducing salpingo‐oophorectomy in women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic variant: The PREVENT randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a theory‐based behavioral intervention delivered by genetic counselors on the uptake of risk‐reducing salpingo‐oophorectomy (RRSO) at 12 and 24 months by women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic variant (PV) compared to women who received usual care. METHODS: In this two‐arm, multi‐site randomized controlled trial participants were randomized to receive a theoretically‐guided behavioral telephone intervention or usual care. Outcome data were collected at 12 and 24 months. Participants in the usual care arm were offered the intervention after 12 months. RESULTS: Data on 107 participants were included in the analysis. There was no significant difference in the proportion of women who had a RRSO by 1 year (28.6%‐ intervention; 22.9%‐ usual care (p = 0.54)). At 1 year, women who received the intervention had significantly lower mean decisional conflict (p (interaction) <0.001) and a higher mean knowledge score at one‐year compared to usual care (p (interaction) <0.001). At 2 years, 53.9% of participants in the intervention arm had RRSO compared to 32.6% in usual care (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A theory‐based behavioral intervention delivered by genetic counselors to women with a BRCA PV who chose not to have the recommended RRSO was effective at reducing decisional conflict and increasing knowledge in women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 PV.