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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing
4009.0: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 - 8:50 AM

Abstract #165907

Aspiration for Health

Ellen Jones, ND, APRN-BC, Nursing, University of N, PO Box 26170, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, 336 335 4894, ellen_jones@uncg.edu

Effective community based genomic medicine relies upon the use of Family Medical History (FMHx) and when appropriate genetic testing to assess disease risk based on clinical evidence. Studies of primary care practices indicate that the FMHx is an underutilized tool in routine examinations and is often viewed as a pre-conception work up. Detailed family histories are often not obtained by primary health care providers because they lack the time and resources to extract clinically relevant information from them. Nevertheless, obtaining accurate family medical history is an essential step for assessing a patient's family-based risk for disease and implementing risk-reducing interventions that include basic human rights. The Office of the US Surgeon General deemed the benefits of the FMHx so important that they have created a national public health initiative to educate citizens regarding the need to learn all they can about their own family medical histories and it can be found on their website at http://www.hhs.gov/familyhistory/. The purpose of this session is to discuss family history based risk assessment and the importance of obtaining an accurate family history, especially in vulnerable populations. The aspiration of Genomic Medicine is to improve health with the premise that health is a human right.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Human Rights, Genetics

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Community Based Genomic Medicine: A Human Rights Perspective

The 135th APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 3-7, 2007) of APHA