Family history is a risk factor for common diseases. This study examined familial risk as a predictor of intent to share family history with a healthcare provider for women in an urban Appalachian population.
Women (n = 100) in the Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, region with less than a college education participated in education sessions, which focused on the U.S. Surgeon General's Family History tool. Intent to share family history with a health care provider was measured in education session evaluations. Participant-generated pedigrees were assigned high, moderate, or average risks for six common diseases.
Intent to share family history with a healthcare provider was high (78.3%). Chi-square analyses revealed no statistically significant relationships between family history risk and intent (heart disease X2 = 2.75, df = 2, p = 0.25; diabetes X2 = 0.44, df = 2, p = 0.80; stroke X2 = 4.00, df = 2, p = 0.14).