Interviews with primary care physicians regarding taking and interpreting the cancer family history.
BACKGROUND
The cancer family history can be used to stratify risk and guide management regarding screening and prevention of cancer.


OBJECTIVE
The current study was designed to gain understanding of specific barriers to obtaining and using the cancer family history for the primary care physician.


METHODS
Interviews were conducted with structured samples of specialists in family medicine, general internal medicine and gynaecology in three settings in two north-eastern states. A medical anthropologist conducted interviews based on a topical outline; transcripts were systematically analyzed by a research team to identify major themes expressed by participants.


RESULTS
Among 40 urban, suburban and rural physicians interviewed, 40% were women and medical school graduation years ranged from 1963 to 2000. These physicians regarded cancer family history as important, but process and content were not standardized. Major barriers to more focused use of this information included limitations of patients' family history knowledge; time needed to clarify and interpret this information and the lack of clear and accessible guidelines to assist in collection, interpretation and management decisions for average, moderate and higher risk patients. Language and cultural barriers made it more difficult to collect family histories in some populations.


CONCLUSIONS
Barriers to effective application of cancer family history information included limitations of patients' family history information; lack of methods to systematically and efficiently focus on the most useful information and lack of accessible guidance for risk stratification and management. Results suggest a need for support addressing these concerns to better utilize several readily available cancer risk management opportunities.
Wood
Marie E
ME
Hematology/Oncology Division, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA. marie.wood@uvm.edu
Stockdale
Alan
A
Flynn
Brian S
BS