Last month was Family Health History Month — a national health observance that encourages people to learn about their family medical history. Here at We ❤️ Health Literacy headquarters, we love a good public health observance. And we love a good think about inclusive health communication. Family health history is an area that’s not always talked about in the most inclusive, empathetic way.
Here’s the thing — family health history is really important. It can help with calculating your risk for inherited conditions, guide screening recommendations, and provide a more complete overall picture of your health. For example, some genetic differences that cause diseases can be inherited — like the BRCA gene that causes breast cancer. So if you have a family history of breast cancer (or something else), your doctor might recommend you get tests or screenings earlier and more often. In short, doctors look to family health history to help guide more personalized and proactive care.
But here’s the other thing — people may not always have access to their full family history. There are a lot of things that can prevent people from knowing their family’s medical background. And some of those things could be difficult to talk about or emotionally sensitive. Here are some factors that can be a barrier to family health information.
- Donor conception. People conceived using donor eggs, sperm, or embryos may have limited or no access to family health history. It depends on when the donation happened, what type of donor was chosen (anonymous, known, or open ID), and how honest and open a person’s parents were about having used a donor.
- Adoption. Similar challenges can exist for people who were adopted — especially during times when anonymous adoptions were common.
- Estrangement. Some families simply don’t have contact with one another. Rifts or disputes can cause family members to be unwilling to talk for any reason, including health-related reasons. In other cases, where estrangement has happened due to abuse and violence, making contact might even be unsafe.
- Separation due to war or migration. Historical and modern events like war, migration, and immigration can disconnect family members. When families are separated, medical history may be lost.
Our messages need to be sensitive and reflect this diversity of experience. Here are some ways we can talk about family health history thoughtfully and with care.
- Acknowledge gaps. Clearly state that “not everyone has access to their full family health history.”
- Reassure. Having limited or no access to family health history might feel scary, sad, or isolating. Make sure your messages let people know that it’s okay not to have all the details — and that family health history is not the end-all-be-all for having good health.
- Promote healthy habits. Highlight behaviors and choices that support good health for everyone, regardless of genetic background. Remind people that a healthy lifestyle can make a huge difference in overall health and well-being.
- Strike a balanced tone when talking about genetic testing. The subject is complex, and packed with opinions about what people should and shouldn’t do — and how. Remember that the decision to have genetic tests, whether they’re clinical or direct-to-consumer, is a personal one. Give your audience quality information on the topic and trust them to decide what’s best for themselves.
The bottom line: By acknowledging differences in access to family health history, we can ensure that messages about health are inclusive, supportive, and empowering.
Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): Family health history — a powerful tool for health, but one that’s not in everyone’s toolkit. CommunicateHealth has some thoughts about how to talk about family history with care and compassion for diverse experiences. Take a look: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/talking-about-family-health-history-inclusive-strategies-for-every-story/
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