Familial Risk for Chronic Disease... - Preventing Chronic Disease: January 2010: 08_0221

Volume 7: No. 1, January 2010

ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Familial Risk for Chronic Disease and Intent to Share Family History With a Health Care Provider Among Urban Appalachian Women, Southwestern Ohio, 2007

Margaret G. Au, MBE, MS; Sandra J. Cornett, RN, PhD; Todd G. Nick, PhD; Jody Wallace, MS; Yu Wang, MS; Nancy S. Warren, MS; Melanie F. Myers, MS, PhD
Suggested citation for this article: Au MG, Cornett SJ, Nick TG, Wallace J, Wang Y, Warren NS, et al. Familial risk for chronic disease and intent to share family history with a health care provider among urban Appalachian women, southwestern Ohio, 2007. Prev Chronic Dis 2010;7(1).
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2010/jan/08_0221.htm. Accessed [date].

PEER REVIEWED

Abstract
Introduction
Family history of certain chronic diseases is a risk factor for those diseases. We assessed demographic characteristics associated with familial risk for common diseases and whether familial risk was associated with intent to share family history with a health care provider among urban Appalachian women.

Methods
Urban Appalachian women (N = 88) with less than a college education participated in education sessions about family history in health promotion in southwest Ohio. Participants used My Family Health Portrait, electronically or on paper, to document their level of familial risk. Evaluations completed after each session gauged intent to share family history with a health care provider.

Results
Participants who used the paper version of My Family Health Portrait had lower odds of high familial risk for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Most participants (n = 62, 77%) reported that they intended to share their family history with a health care provider. Factors associated with intent to share family history included younger age, use of the electronic family history tool, and high familial risk of heart disease.

Conclusion
The large proportion of women who intended to share family history with a health care provider may reflect the success of the educational component. Since familial risk for chronic disease is high among these urban Appalachian women, the need to share family history should continue to be promoted.

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Preventing Chronic Disease: January 2010: 08_0221