Exploring the use of family health histories in the African American community to reduce health disparities: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

Health disparities are costly and preventable differences in disease progression that disproportionately affect minority communities. Practices to reduce health disparities are often rooted in prevention, particularly through screening tools. Family Health History tools are screening mechanisms that explore family history to better understand how an individual's health can be predicted or impacted. These tools are underutilized in the African American community. Contributions to underutilization include a lack of cultural tailoring in the tools, a lack of health literacy, and a lack of effective health communication. The Family Health History Study will create a culturally appropriate Family Health History toolkit to increase utilization and ultimately decrease health disparities.

METHODS

The proposed sample will be composed of 195 African American adults ages 18+ who live in Genesee County, Michigan. The study consists of two phases: the development phase and the randomized control trial phase. The goal of the development phase (n = 95) is to explore how Family Health History toolkits can be modified to better serve the African American community using a community based participatory research approach and to create a culturally tailored family health history toolkit. In the RCT phase, 100 participants will be randomized to the culturally tailored toolkit or the current standard Family Health History toolkit. Outcomes will include feasibility and acceptability of the intervention.

DISCUSSION: This study will result in a culturally appropriate Family Health History tool that is co-developed with community members that can be utilized by African American adults to better understand their family health histories.