In future it could be made available over the Internet for anyone worried about inherited cancer to assess their own risk.

The BBC's Christine McGourty: The programme could be adapted for use over the internet

Risk Assessment in Genetics (RAGs) is a computer programme that assesses the risk of a patient developing cancers such as bowel, ovarian or breast that run in families and suggests an appropriate course of action.

GPs are under increasing pressure to advise patients of the genetic risk of cancer because of greater public awareness of the disease, but many have little knowledge of the subject

Tested by doctors

The software was tested by 15 GPs, who were each consulted by two female "patients" played by actors concerned about their risk of cancer.

Most of the doctors found the programme easy to use and said it was useful in helping them to assess risk - something that can be difficult to do.

However, some felt that they were out of control during the consultation.

Some found it awkward sitting next to their patients with the screen in front of them, unable to predict the information that would be displayed, or to read the body language of the patient.

When the programme calculated that a patient should be considered as "high risk" doctors commented that they felt a sense of panic and wanted to turn the screen away from the patient in order to break the bad news more gently.

Some doctors were also uncomfortable with the speed of the programme, and said that they preferred to stage the process of assessment so that they had time to prepare themselves for presenting bad news.

The software is being evaluated by Dr Jon Emery, of the Cancer Research Campaign.

'A third person in the room'

Dr Emery said: "For many doctors using the computer was like having a third person in the room - one who threatened to take their attention away from the patient."

One solution the GPs offered was for patients to have two separate consultations, one for a doctor or nurse to take information and a second for the doctor to give the result.

The processing would happen when the patient was not present, giving the GP a chance to assimilate the information.

The software was developed by Dr Andrew Coulson at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund's Advanced Computation Laboratories in London.

Dr Coulson said: "Increased public awareness about genetic testing and cancer genetics will put greater pressure on GPs, and genetic clinics.