Physicians' strategies for using family history data: having the data is not the same as using the data

Area of Science:

• Clinical Informatics
• Genetics
• Primary Care Medicine

Background:

• Family health history (FHH) is crucial for risk assessment.
• Current methods of FHH collection and utilization in primary care are not well understood.
• Clinical decision support tools for FHH are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify needs for clinical decision support tool development.
• To explore how primary care providers collect and use family health history (FHH).

Main Methods:

• Survey questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were conducted.
• Participants included primary and specialty care clinicians at University of Utah Health.
• Data were collected from 40 surveys and 12 interviews.

Main Results:

• FHH collection strategies vary in effort.
• Documentation of FHH extends beyond electronic health record modules.
• Providers need better feedback from genetic services and are unsure how to refer patients.

Conclusions:

• Provider engagement with FHH collection varies.
• Improved workflow integration and decision support are needed.
• Enhanced links to genetic counseling can improve patient care.