Familial risk for chronic disease and intent to share family history with a health care provider among urban Appalachian women, southwestern Ohio, 2007.
BACKGROUND
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Au
Margaret G
MG
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
Cornett
Sandra J
SJ
Nick
Todd G
TG
Wallace
Jody
J
Wang
Yu
Y
Warren
Nancy S
NS
Myers
Melanie F
MF
D001061:Appalachian Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003625:Data Collection; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006282:Health Personnel; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone