Oncologist Confidence in Genomic Testing and Implications for Using Multimarker Tumor Panel Tests in Practice

Abstract

PURPOSE The evolution of precision oncology increasingly requires oncologists to incorporate genomic testing into practice. Yet, providers’ confidence with genomic testing is poorly documented. This article describes medical oncologists’ confidence with genomic testing and the association between genomic confidence and test use. METHODS We used data from the 2017 National Survey of Precision Medicine in Cancer Treatment to characterize oncologists’ confidence with genomic testing. Genomic confidence was examined separately by type of test user: next-generation sequencing (NGS) only, gene expression (GE) only, both NGS and GE, or nonuser. Predictors of genomic confidence were examined with multinomial logistic regression. The association between genomic confidence and test use was examined with multivariable linear regression. RESULTS More than 75% of genomic test users were either moderately or very confident about using results from multimarker tumor panel tests to guide patient care. Confidence with using multimarker tumor panel tests was highest among both NGS and GE test users, with 60.1% very confident in using test results, and lowest among NGS-only test users, with 38.2% very confident in using test results. Oncologists were most confident in using single-gene tests and least confident in using whole-genome or -exome sequencing to guide patient care. Genomic confidence was positively associated with self-reported test use. In adjusted models, training in genomics, larger patient volume, and treating patients with solid tumors predicted higher genomic confidence. Onsite pathology services and receipt of electronic medical record alerts for genomic testing predicted lower genomic confidence. CONCLUSION Oncologists’ confidence varies by testing platform, patient volume, genomic training, and practice infrastructure. Research is needed to identify modifiable factors that can be targeted to enhance provider confidence with genomic testing.