'Coming down the line' - Patients' understanding of their family history of common chronic disease

Abstract

PURPOSE: The family history is becoming an increasingly important feature of health promotion and early detection of common chronic diseases in primary care. Previous studies of patients from genetics clinics suggest a divergence between how persons with a family history perceive and understand their risk and the risk information provided by health professionals. This interview study aimed to explore how patients in primary care understand and come to terms with their family history of cancer, heart disease, or diabetes and how family history might affect consultations about disease risk and management. METHODS: Thirty semistructured interviews were conducted with general practice patients w..