Abstract
A complete family medical history is a valuable tool for understanding a person’s genetic risks but it is often underutilized in the primary care setting. Methods for effectively obtaining and interpreting this information are not well-established. As obtaining a genetic family history may become standard practice in routine health care settings, it is necessary to have methods to effectively and accurately acquire the desired genetic family history. The purpose of this study was to design and pilot a pediatric family history collection tool in the form of a symptom-based checklist, to be used in a primary care setting. This checklist was piloted in a suburban pediatric practice located outside of Boston, MA for a two-week period. Parents who completed the checklist and practitioners who reviewed the family history information provided by the parents were invited to participate in a brief survey to assess the effectiveness of the tool. \r A total of 159 families and 8 practitioners from the pediatric practice completed the survey. Over 97% of parents reported a positive impression of the checklist. Parents felt it was effective at collecting family history information and over 90% felt the amount of time it took them to complete the checklist was appropriate. Practitioners were more divided in their thoughts about the checklist’s success. Half viewed the checklist as an improvement over tools used previously by the practice, and most felt it collected relevant family history information. However, practitioners were concerned about the time and level of effort it required of them. It is unclear whether this concern would extend to any family history tool. Incorporating the checklist information into the patient’s electronic medical record and educating parents and practitioners about the value and purpose of collecting a family history may improve overall satisfaction.