Family health history--a role in prevention.
To harness its potential, a patient's family health history should be collected pre-emptively and proactively when the patient is well, rather than when symptoms of disease present. Unless general practitioners proactively seek and discuss family health history, opportunities for prevention may be lost.
Dunlop
Kate
K
The Centre for Genetics Education NSW Health, Royal North Shore Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales. kdunlop@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Barlow-Stewart
Kristine
K
Giffin
Michael
M
D001315:Australia; D005190:Family; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D011315:Preventive Medicine