title: Using family history information to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent diseases; a discussion of the evidence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A family history, reflecting genetic susceptibility as well as shared environmental and behavioral factors, is an important risk factor for common chronic multifactorial diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and many cancers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The purpose of the present paper is to discuss the evidence for the use of family history as a tool for primary prevention of common chronic diseases, in particular for tailored interventions aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles. The following questions are addressed: (1) What is the value of family history information as a determinant of personal disease risk?; (2)How can family history information be used to motivate at-risk individuals to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles in order to prevent disease?; and (3) What additional studies are needed to assess the potential value of family history information as a tool to promote a healthy lifestyle?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to risk assessment, family history information can be used to personalize health messages, which are potentially more effective in promoting healthy lifestyles than standardized health messages. More research is needed on the evidence for the effectiveness of such a tool.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. liesbeth.claassen@vumc.nl
authors.forename: Liesbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Claassen
authors.forename: Lidewij
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Henneman
authors.forename: A Cecile J W
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.forename: Miranda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wijdenes-Pijl
authors.forename: Nadeem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: Fiona M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Paula W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Danielle R M
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Timmermans
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods*
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