Modernized Culturally Sensitive Family Medical History Tool

Rush River Research Corporation, Ellsworth WI

Investigators

Abstract

Rush River Research Corporation aims to develop a modern software tool to collect family health history that is responsive to African-American cultural sensitivities, elicited through ongoing engagement with community perspectives. African Americans face higher mortality rates than their white counterparts for critical health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes, which have increased risk with family history. Family history significantly amplifies this risk; having a single first-degree relative with these conditions can double an individual's risk, which further multiplies with the presence of multiple affected family members. A comprehensive understanding of one's family health history can significantly inform preventative measures, including lifestyle adaptations, targeted screenings, genetic counseling and testing, and other diagnostic techniques. Although understanding family health history is a recognized standard of care, its application is underutilized, especially among African Americans. Individual knowledge of family health history, coupled with cultural differences in how families disclose health information, nontraditional family units, confusion over medical jargon, lack of medical care, and a lack of understanding about why family health history is important, reduce awareness of preventable medical problems. Our initiative gathers experts from community health research, medical software development, and the commercial sector to develop this crucial tool. An advisory board composed of African-American physicians and community champions will ensure the tool's cultural relevance and usability. Given the prominent health literacy concerns in the U.S., rigorous testing and validation of readability and comprehension will be implemented to ensure our tool effectively addresses health literacy challenges. Furthermore, we aim to assess the usability of the family health history tool by African Americans.