Family history-taking in community family practice: implications for genetic screening.
OBJECTIVE
To identify characteristics of physicians, patients, and visits associated with obtaining family history information in community family practice.


METHODS
Research nurses directly observed 4,454 patient visits to 138 family physicians and reviewed office medical records.


RESULTS
Family history was discussed during 51% of visits by new patients and 22% of visits by established patients. Physicians' rates of family history-taking varied from 0% to 81% of visits. Family history was more often discussed at well care rather than illness visits. The average duration of family history discussions was <2.5 minutes.


CONCLUSIONS
These data can form the basis for realistic interventions to increase the use of family history in primary care.
Department of Family Medicine, Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio 44106-5036, USA.
L S
LS
Acheson
G L
GL
Wiesner
S J
SJ
Zyzanski
M A
MA
Goodwin
K C
KC
Stange
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003153:Community Health Services; D005192:Family Health; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012099:Reproductive Techniques