Barriers and facilitators for online genetic care for hereditary cancer in Japan: Findings from surveys of both clients and medical professionals

Background: The demand for genetic care is rapidly growing, but a shortage of qualified medical professionals has created regional disparities in access. Online genetic care offers a promising solution to overcome these geographical challenges. However, despite its potential and widespread adoption globally, its use in Japan remains limited for reasons that are not fully understood. Methods: We conducted two questionnaire surveys to investigate potential needs and barriers regarding online genetic care, from the perspective of both clients who receive genetic care about hereditary tumors and medical professionals who provide such care. Results: We analyzed responses from 858 medical professionals (738 physicians and 120 genetic counselors or nurses) and 443 clients. Although only 120 (14.0%) of the medical professionals had experience with online genetic care, 85.9% of the professionals involved in hereditary cancer practice were willing to consider providing it in the future. Clients prioritized receiving care at specialty hospitals, a key perceived advantage of online care. Professionals expressed greater concerns about adequacy of online communication, client environments and internet security. Most clients felt they could understand 70-80% of counseling session’s content, even if conducted online. Concerns about ability to use the necessary technology affected willingness of clients to encourage online care for their relatives. Conclusion: To provide satisfactory genetic care to all client, regardless of where they live, there is an urgent need to educate both patients and medical professionals on the appropriate use of online medical care and develop a user-friendly, secure system.