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

Abstract #112543

Irene Best, BSN RN and Mary Ellen T. Miller, MSN, RN. School of Nursing, La Salle University, 1900 West Olney Avenue Box 808, Philadelphia, PA 19141, 610-649-3470, Irene.Best@uphs.upenn.edu

This poster is being submitted by an Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) student at the time that the poster was completed. The anticipated graduation from the MSN program is May 15, 2005. The author will receive a MSN in a graduate program in nursing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), family history is known to be a risk factor for many chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. The value of this genetic information cannot be understated. However, the collection of family health history data in preventive medicine has held less value than other health risks such as smoking. U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona spearheads the movement toward utilization of family health history assessment as a public health tool since the launch of a nationwide Family History Initiative in November 2004. This program's objective was to raise awareness of family health history among high school students at Frankford High School in Philadelphia, PA. Pregnant and parenting students in the ELECT Teen Parent Center program, Education Leading to Employment and Career Training, were targeted for this program. A sub- set of ELECT students were enrolled in a "Healthy Living" program, providing weekly classes to address health issues, with primary focus on family health history. Increased awareness of the importance of family health history was accomplished by drawing personal family pedigrees. This hands-on, creative exercise, was one methodology utilized in this educational program on risk assessment and modification through disease prevention. The MSN candidate then inputted student family health history information into the Surgeon General's web- based “My Family Portrait.” A printout of this document was distributed to each participant for the purpose of future discussion with their health care provider as well as inclusion in both their medical record and their baby's keepsake book. It is imperative that students in graduate programs of nursing are cognizant of innovative public health initiatives, such as the Surgeon General's Family History Initiative. This graduate student project has the potential to be replicated in other schools of nursing in both urban and rural settings.

Learning Objectives: At the completion of the poster session, participants will be able to

• Articulate the public health application of the Surgeon General's Family History Initiative,
• Describe creative ways to implement the Surgeon General's Family History Initiative in the community setting, and
• Identify successful replication strategies at their own institution.

Keywords: Genetics, Surgeon General's Report

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.