Familial risk for lifestyle-related chronic diseases: Can family health history be used as a motivational tool to promote health behaviour in young adults?

Abstract

Issue addressed Risk for colorectal cancer, breast cancer, heart disease and diabetes has both a familial and a lifestyle component. This quasi-experimental study aimed to determine whether a Family Health History (FHH) assessment and the subsequent provision of risk information would increase young adults' (17-29 years) intentions to modify health behaviours associated with the risk of these chronic diseases (i.e. alcohol consumption, fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity) and to talk to their family about their risk. Methods After baseline measures of current and intended health-related behaviours, participants (n≤116) were randomly allocated to either a FHH assessment or contro..