Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104584

Kristen Vogel, BA¹, Stephen B. Thomas, PhD¹, Robin E. Grubs, PhD, CGC², M. Michael Barmada, PhD², Elizabeth (Betsy) Gettig, MS, CGC², Vinaya Murthy, MPH¹, and Beth Dudley, BS¹. (1) Center for Minority Health, University of Pittsburgh, 125 Parran Hall, 130 Desoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, 412-624-5665, kvogel@cmh.pitt.edu, (2) Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, 130 DeSoto Street, A-300 Crabtree, Pittsburgh, PA 15261

The Center for Minority Health (CMH) within the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health has the vision to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities. The Center has developed a family health history initiative in which genetic counseling students go into the community and discuss the importance of family history as it pertains to chronic disease prevention. Each participant works with the student to create a detailed family health history. Individuals may also enroll in a Minority Research Recruitment Database. This allows CMH to contact individuals with information about clinical studies for which they may qualify, based upon their family history information. Given the under-representation of minorities in clinical research, the Center hopes to increase recruitment. By including ethnic minorities in clinical research, we are giving individuals access to new and high-quality health care, increasing our ability to generalize research, learning of any potential difference in the pathobiology of the disease, and checking for differences in drug responses.

This study characterizes individuals who elected to enroll in the database and compares them to individuals who declined enrollment. Factors to be compared include demographic information, opinions on research, and family history information. Of the 129 participants, approximately 80% enrolled in the database. The aim of this study is to determine if a family history database is a successful method for minority recruitment, determine what factors make individuals more likely to enroll, and provide a service to the African American community. This comparative analysis is to be completed by April, 2005.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Evaluate the use of family health histories to educate individuals within the African American community
• Discuss the utility of a family health history as a clinical research recruitment tool
• Identify factors that may be associated with increased minority enrollment in clinical research studies

Keywords: Genetics, Minority Research

Related Web page: www.cmh.pitt.edu

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.