Designing and Evaluating a Digital Family Health History Tool for Spanish Speakers

Digital family health history tools have been developed but few have been tested with non-English speakers and evaluated for acceptability and usability. This study describes the cultural and linguistic adaptation and evaluation of a family health history tool (VICKY: VIrtual Counselor for Knowing Your Family History) for Spanish speakers. In-depth interviews were conducted with 56 Spanish-speaking participants; a subset of 30 also participated in a qualitative component to evaluate the acceptability and usability of Spanish VICKY. Overall, agreement in family history assessment was moderate between VICKY and a genetic counselor (weighted kappa range: 0.4695 for stroke—0.6615 for heart disease), although this varied across disease subtypes. Participants felt comfortable using VICKY and noted that VICKY was very likeable and possessed human-like characteristics. They reported that VICKY was very easy to navigate, felt that the instructions were very clear, and thought that the time it took to use the tool was just right. Spanish VICKY may be useful as a tool to collect family health history and was viewed as acceptable and usable. The study results shed light on some cultural differences that may influence interactions with family history tools and inform future research aimed at designing and testing culturally and linguistically diverse digital systems.

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An Investigation of the Usability Issues of a Family Health History Compiling Application

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1541931218621385 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

pp. 1699-1703 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Amal Ponathil ◽

Necmettin Firat Ozkan ◽

Jeffrey Bertrand ◽

Brandon Welch ◽

Kapil Chalil Madathil

Keyword(s):

Experimental Study ◽

Family History ◽

Age Groups ◽

Family Health ◽

User Profile ◽

Family Health History ◽

Health History ◽

Online Tools ◽

Computer Based ◽

Excessive Number

Family health history is considered a useful indicator for early detection or prediction of an individual’s risk for chronic diseases. There are several ways to collect these data, one of which is through online tools. Usability of these applications is vital since they have to serve a diverse user population including different age groups and levels of education. This study investigated the usability issues of a widely used computer-based family history collection tool, the Surgeon General's My Family Health Portrait. A total of 20 participants completed the experimental study. Based on a pre-defined and fictional script, the users completed 5 tasks on the application: 1) creating a user profile, 2) adding family health history, 3) re-accessing the application, 4) editing the information, and 5) sharing the information. Participants reported issues in getting back to the home page (opening screen) and with the excessive number of written instructions on the screen.

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Challenges to Implementing the Current Pediatric Cholesterol Screening Guidelines Into Practice

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.94.3.296 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 94 (3) ◽

pp. 296-302 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Barbara A. Dennison ◽

Paul L. Jenkins ◽

Thomas A. Pearson

Keyword(s):

Family History ◽

Cholesterol Level ◽

Family Health ◽

Single Parent ◽

Family Health History ◽

Blood Cholesterol ◽

Cholesterol Screening ◽

Health History ◽

Cholesterol Levels ◽

History Of

Objective. The Expert Panel on Blood Cholesterol Levels in Children and Adolescents of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recommends selective screening of children for high blood cholesterol. We determined the number of children, who, according to the guidelines, should be targeted for cholesterol screening. Design. Population survey. Setting. Permanent household residents in Otsego County, NY. Participants. Total population-based sample of 17 444 households (86.6% response rate) including 44 565 participants, of whom 10 457 were children, aged 2 through 19 years. Main outcome measures. Percent of children qualifying for cholesterol screening under the NCEP Children's Panel guidelines. Results. Children from two-parent families were more likely to have known family history of coronary heart disease (CHD) before 60 years of age (41.8% vs 25.8%, P < .001), and twice as likely as children from single-parent families to have known parental hypercholesterolemia (18.8% vs 9.5%, P < .001). Only 39% of parents reported having had their cholesterol level checked; they were better educated and more likely to have health insurance. Parents with a first-degree relative with CHD before 60 years of age were more likely to report having their cholesterol level checked and to report a high cholesterol level. We calculated that 27% of children (18% of children from single-parent households and 29% of children from two-parent households) would report a known family history of premature CHD (ie, CHD before 55 years of age) and qualify for lipoprotein analysis, and that 11% of children would qualify for total cholesterol screening because of known parental hypercholesterolemia without a family history of premature CHD. Thirty-five percent of children had incomplete or unavailable family health history and/or unknown parental cholesterol status. Conclusions. In this population, 38% of children would be targeted for cholesterol screening, exceeding the estimate of the NCEP Children and Adolescents Panel. The selection process, however, would tend to miss children from single-parent families, children with incomplete family health history, and children whose parents have not had their cholesterol levels measured. The currently recommended pediatric cholesterol screening policy needs to be evaluated further in additional communities and population settings. Alternative cholesterol screening strategies are needed when family health history is incomplete and/or parental cholesterol status is unknown.

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How is family health history discussed in routine primary healthcare? A qualitative study of archived family doctor consultations

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049058 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. e049058

Author(s):

Sara Filoche ◽

Maria H Stubbe ◽

Rebecca Grainger ◽

Bridget Robson ◽

Karyn Paringatai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Family History ◽

Family Relationships ◽

Family Doctor ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Family Health ◽

Family Health History ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Health History ◽

The Family ◽

Genetic Medicine

ObjectivesFamily health history underpins genetic medicine. Our study aimed to explore language and patterns of communication relating to family health history observed in interactions between general practitioners (GPs) and their patients within routine primary care consultations.DesignSecondary analysis of patient and GP routine consultation data (n=252).ParticipantsConsultations that included ‘family health history’ were eligible for inclusion (n=58).Primary outcomesA qualitative inductive analysis of the interactions from consultation transcripts.Results46/58 conversations about family health history were initiated by the GP. Most discussions around family history lasted for between approximately 1 to 2 min. Patients were invited to share family health history through one of two ways: non-specific enquiry (eg, by asking the patient about ‘anything that runs in the family’); or specific enquiry where they were asked if they had a ‘strong family history’ in relation to a particular condition, for example, breast cancer. Patients often responded to either approach with a simple no, but fuller negative responses also occurred regularly and typically included an account of some kind (eg, explaining family relationships/dynamics which impeded or prevented the accessibility of information).ConclusionsFamily health history is regarded as a genetic test and is embedded in the sociocultural norms of the patient from whom information is being sought. Our findings highlight that it is more complex than asking simply if ‘anything’ runs in the family. As the collection of family health history is expected to be more routine, it will be important to also consider it from sociocultural perspectives in order to help mitigate any inequities in how family history is collected, and therefore used (or not) in a person’s healthcare. Orientating an enquiry away from ‘anything’ and asking more specific details about particular conditions may help facilitate the dialogue.

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