Primary care physicians' use of family history for cancer risk assessment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Family history (FH) assessment is useful in identifying and managing patients at increased risk for cancer. This study assessed reported FH quality and associations with physician perceptions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <...

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Main Authors: Stockdale Alan, Ashikaga Takamaru, Wood Marie E, Flynn Brian S, Dana Greg S, Naud Shelly
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2010-06-01
Series:BMC Family Practice
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/11/45
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author Stockdale Alan
Ashikaga Takamaru
Wood Marie E
Flynn Brian S
Dana Greg S
Naud Shelly
author_facet Stockdale Alan
Ashikaga Takamaru
Wood Marie E
Flynn Brian S
Dana Greg S
Naud Shelly
author_sort Stockdale Alan
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Family history (FH) assessment is useful in identifying and managing patients at increased risk for cancer. This study assessed reported FH quality and associations with physician perceptions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Primary care physicians practicing in two northeastern U.S. states were surveyed (n = 880; 70% response rate). Outcome measures of FH quality were extent of FH taken and ascertaining age at cancer diagnosis for affected family members. Predictors of quality measured in this survey included: perceived advantages and disadvantages of collecting FH information, knowledge of management options, access to supportive resources, and confidence in ability to interpret FH.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Reported collection of information regarding second degree blood relatives and age of diagnosis among affected relatives was low. All hypothesized predictors were associated with measures of FH quality, but not all were consistent independent predictors. Perceived advantages of taking a family history, access to supportive resources, and confidence in ability to identify and manage higher risk patients were independent predictors of both FH quality measures. Perceived disadvantages of taking a family history was independently associated one measure of FH quality. Knowledge of management options was not independently associated with either quality measure.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Modifiable perception and resource factors were independently associated with quality of FH taking in a large and diverse sample of primary care physicians. Improving FH quality for identification of high risk individuals will require multi-faceted interventions.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-8e405eb3d4d84492a340ddc1994b4f842022-12-22T02:46:29ZengBMCBMC Family Practice1471-22962010-06-011114510.1186/1471-2296-11-45Primary care physicians' use of family history for cancer risk assessmentStockdale AlanAshikaga TakamaruWood Marie EFlynn Brian SDana Greg SNaud Shelly<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Family history (FH) assessment is useful in identifying and managing patients at increased risk for cancer. This study assessed reported FH quality and associations with physician perceptions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Primary care physicians practicing in two northeastern U.S. states were surveyed (n = 880; 70% response rate). Outcome measures of FH quality were extent of FH taken and ascertaining age at cancer diagnosis for affected family members. Predictors of quality measured in this survey included: perceived advantages and disadvantages of collecting FH information, knowledge of management options, access to supportive resources, and confidence in ability to interpret FH.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Reported collection of information regarding second degree blood relatives and age of diagnosis among affected relatives was low. All hypothesized predictors were associated with measures of FH quality, but not all were consistent independent predictors. Perceived advantages of taking a family history, access to supportive resources, and confidence in ability to identify and manage higher risk patients were independent predictors of both FH quality measures. Perceived disadvantages of taking a family history was independently associated one measure of FH quality. Knowledge of management options was not independently associated with either quality measure.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Modifiable perception and resource factors were independently associated with quality of FH taking in a large and diverse sample of primary care physicians. Improving FH quality for identification of high risk individuals will require multi-faceted interventions.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/11/45
spellingShingle Stockdale Alan
Ashikaga Takamaru
Wood Marie E
Flynn Brian S
Dana Greg S
Naud Shelly
Primary care physicians' use of family history for cancer risk assessment
BMC Family Practice
title Primary care physicians' use of family history for cancer risk assessment
title_full Primary care physicians' use of family history for cancer risk assessment
title_fullStr Primary care physicians' use of family history for cancer risk assessment
title_full_unstemmed Primary care physicians' use of family history for cancer risk assessment
title_short Primary care physicians' use of family history for cancer risk assessment
title_sort primary care physicians use of family history for cancer risk assessment
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/11/45
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