Family History Taking in Pediatric Practice: A Qualitative Interview Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Clinical Practice Research
• Health Behavior Research

Background:

• Family history (FH) is a known risk factor for pediatric conditions.
• Current standards for taking family history in pediatrics are lacking.
• Limited research exists on current family history taking practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate pediatricians' perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, and practices regarding family history taking.
• To understand the nuances of how family history is incorporated into pediatric care.
• To identify factors influencing family history taking in pediatric settings.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to develop interview guides.
• Conducted semi-structured interviews with community pediatricians.
• Employed thematic analysis and constant comparison for qualitative data interpretation.

Main Results:

• Family history taking is a complex, embedded aspect of pediatric care.
• Pediatricians integrate FH with social history for holistic patient assessment.
• FH aids in risk assessment, diagnosis, medication choice, patient management, and psychosocial support.
• Pediatricians express confidence in FH skills and are resistant to practice changes without compelling evidence.

Conclusions:

• The TDF provided a comprehensive framework for understanding FH taking.
• FH taking in pediatrics is a complex, integrated component of routine care.
• Systematic improvements in FH taking must consider pediatricians' perspectives and practices.