title: Family health history--a role in prevention.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dunlop
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barlow-Stewart
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giffin
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D005190:Family; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D011315:Preventive Medicine