title: Community-centered family health history: a customized approach to increased health communication and awareness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There has been little study of whether family health history (FHH) tools used by individuals, families, and communities inspire measurable changes in communication and behavior.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The Community-Centered Family Health History (CCFHH) project was a collaborative endeavor among national and community-based organizations with an interest in genetics education and health. Using community- based participatory research principles as a foundation, CCFHH examined whether the Does It Run In the Family? toolkit, a set of two customizable booklets on health and genetics, encourages discussion and collection of FHH information across diverse communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five communities across the country measured the utility of customized versions of the Does It Run In the Family? toolkit. Each community partner recruited families, consisting of two or more blood relatives, to use the toolkit for 3 months, discuss it among their family members, and consider the implications of the health information. Pre- and postintervention surveys measured family communication about family history and disease risk and the use of FHH information in health care provider interactions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After aggregate, cross-community analysis of individual responses, from pre- to post-toolkit use family members showed increases in communication about family history of disease risk (p < .05) and in awareness about FHH (p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that diverse communities are receptive to FHH intervention, and tailored health educational materials can lead to increased conversations and awareness about health issues across communities.
authors.affiliation: Genetic Alliance.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.forename: Vaughn
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Edelson
authors.forename: Nicora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gepp
authors.forename: Panelpha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kyler
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Petruccio
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terry
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bowen
mesh_terms: D002755:Choice Behavior; D003142:Communication; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005192:Family Health; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000235:genetics*; D005826:Genetics, Medical / Q000193:education; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D033262:Narration; D014481:United States