BACKGROUND

The role of genetics in breast cancer management is becoming increasingly essential in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Harmonized Guidelines by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) for SSA outline the subset of patients requiring genetic testing for hereditary breast cancer as part of their treatment plan. However, in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Nigeria, access to genetic counselling and testing remains limited. Additionally, the knowledge and acceptability of these available services from the healthcare provider (HCP) perspective are largely unknown. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and perceptions of hereditary breast cancer testing among HCPs in Nigeria.

METHODS

In June 2022, we conducted a survey among 549 Nigerian HCPs. The 35-item survey was administered using Google Forms and distributed via WhatsApp. The survey collected demographic data and included three sections on genetic testing in breast cancer patients, focusing on knowledge, perceptions, and training.

RESULTS

The results were analyzed using R Version 4.4.1 (R Core Team). Altogether 121 HCPs responded (22% response rate): 54 (44.6%) general surgeons, 4 (3.3%) breast surgical oncologists, 29 (24.0%) clinical and radiation oncologists, 31(25.6%) oncology nurses, and 3 (2.5%) breast radiologists. The survey results indicate that Nigerian HCPs were knowledgeable about hereditary breast cancer genetics, but the implementation of counselling and testing was low. Only 32.2% of respondents had requested genetic testing for their patients, and all testing was done through private laboratories. Only 9.9% had received formal clinical genetics training, and 13.2% reported having a genetic counsellor in their hospital. There was considerable interest in future genetics training programs using in person and online teaching modalities.

CONCLUSION

This survey highlights the need for specialized breast cancer genetic training tailored for Nigerian HCPs, which is essential in achieving breast cancer treatment parity. Addressing the substantial challenges in expanding genetic testing capacity in Nigeria is warranted for future progress.