Given the widespread adoption of electronic medical records and recent emergence of electronic family history tools, we examined genetic counselors’ perspectives on the emerging technology of the ...personal health record (PHR)-based family history tool that links to an electronic medical record (EMR). Two-hundred thirty-three genetic counselors responded to an on-line survey eliciting current use of electronic family history (EFH) tools and familiarity with PHR-based family history tools. Additionally, after being shown a series of screen shots of a newly developed PHR-based family history tool based on the U.S. Surgeon General’s
My Family Health Portrait
(United States Department of Health and Human Services
2009
), participants were surveyed about the perceived usefulness, ease of use, and impact on current workflow that this kind of tool would have in their practices. Eighty-three percent reported that their institution has an EMR, yet only 35 % have a dedicated space for family history. Eighty-two percent reported that less than 5 % of their patients have a PHR, and only 16 % have worked with patients who have a PHR. Seventy-two percent or more agreed that a PHR-based family history tool would facilitate communication, increase accuracy of information, ensure consistency in recording information, increase focus on actual counseling, reduce repetitive questions, improve efficiency, and increase the legibility and clarity. Our findings suggest that participants were familiar with existing EFH tools, but that the majority did not use them in practice. Genetic counselors’ adoption of such tools is limited due to non-existence of this kind of technology or inability to integrate it into their clinics. They are also strongly in favor of adopting a PHR-based family history tool in genetics clinics, but have practical concerns that must be addressed before the tool can be implemented.
In the genomics era the use of valid and reliable tools for the collection of family health histories is proposed as a strategy for identifying those at higher risk of chronic disease and increasing ...the adoption of risk-modifying behaviours.This study investigated the impact of a collection tool for a Family Health History Program in Western Australia upon uptake of key health messages and intentions to adopt risk-reducing behaviours for chronic diseases.
Initially a baseline population survey (n=1009) was undertaken to assess the collection of family health histories among adults and identify target populations for the tool. A targeted intercept survey (n=606) was then conducted with women to assess the tool.
Around half the respondents indicated they were motivated to adopt one or more risk-reducing behaviours as a result of their exposure to the tool.The odds of being motivated to do something related to family health history were significantly greater for women who liked the too (AdjOR=3.1,95%Cl 2.1 4.5 ), thought it conveyed useful information (AdjOR=5.0, 95%Cl 2.6-9.6), perceived family history to be more important than before they read the tool (AdjOR=3.4, 95%Cl 2.3-4.9) and had not previously collected family health history information (AdjOR=1.8, 95%Cl 1.1-3.0).
At a whole-of-population level most adults consider family health history important, but few have actually recorded this information. The tool raised awareness of the importance of family health histories to personal health and was considered personally useful by most respondents.
Family health history (FHx) is one of the most important pieces of information available to help genetic counselors and other clinicians identify risk and prevent disease. Unfortunately, the ...collection of FHx from patients is often too time consuming to be done during a clinical visit. Fortunately, there are many electronic FHx tools designed to help patients gather and organize their own FHx information prior to a clinic visit. We conducted a review and analysis of electronic FHx tools to better understand what tools are available, to compare and contrast to each other, to highlight features of various tools, and to provide a foundation for future evaluation and comparisons across FHx tools. Through our analysis, we included and abstracted 17 patient-facing electronic FHx tools and explored these tools around four axes: organization information, family history collection and display, clinical data collected, and clinical workflow integration. We found a large number of differences among FHx tools, with no two the same. This paper provides a useful review for health care providers, researchers, and patient advocates interested in understanding the differences among the available patient-facing electronic FHx tools.
This study examined medical students’ and house officers’ opinions about the Surgeon General’s “My Family Health Portrait” (MFHP) tool. Participants used the tool and were surveyed about tool ...mechanics, potential clinical uses, and barriers. None of the 97 participants had previously used this tool. The average time to enter a family history was 15 min (range 3 to 45 min). Participants agreed or strongly agreed that the MFHP tool is understandable (98%), easy to use (93%), and suitable for general public use (84%). Sixty-seven percent would encourage their patients to use the tool; 39% would ensure staff assistance. Participants would use the tool to identify patients at increased risk for disease (86%), record family history in the medical chart (84%), recommend preventive health behaviors (80%), and refer to genetics services (72%). Concerns about use of the tool included patient access, information accuracy, technical challenges, and the need for physician education on interpreting family history information.
Harnessing the Power of the Pedigree Wolpert, Chantelle M.; Speer, Marcy C.
Journal of midwifery & women's health,
May‐June 2005, Volume:
50, Issue:
3
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Primary care providers are in an ideal position to practice genomic-based medicine. Family history data can be used to assess reproductive risks or determine an individual’s risk for developing ...specific diseases. The US Department of Health and Human Services has recently launched the US Surgeon General’s Family History Initiative, a national public health campaign designed to encourage Americans to learn more about their family health histories. Furthermore, several national associations now recommend that primary care providers collect family history data to identify patients at risk for these diseases. Ideally, family history data should be ascertained, documented, and analyzed in a standardized manner. Graphic representation of a family history in the form of a pedigree may be preferable to a text format, but further research will clarify this issue. Family history tools are now being developed and studied to identify which methods are most beneficial in different clinical settings.
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