When Family Means More (or Less) Than Genetics: The Intersection of Culture, Family, and Genomics

There is renewed interest in the use of family history to predict individual disease susceptibility, and as a result, standardized online family history tools are being developed and marketed as a “new genetic test.” It is not known how cultural variations in definitions of family influence collecti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of transcultural nursing 2009-07, Vol.20 (3), p.270-277
Main Authors: Burns McGrath, Barbara, Edwards, Karen L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Asian Americans - genetics
Asian Americans - psychology
Attitude to Health - ethnology
Culture
Diabetes
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - ethnology
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - genetics
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - prevention & control
Families & family life
Family Health
Female
Genetic Predisposition to Disease - ethnology
Genetic testing
Genetic Testing - methods
Genetics
Genomics
Health risk assessment
Humans
Japanese Americans
Male
Medical History Taking - methods
Middle Aged
Oceanic Ancestry Group - genetics
Oceanic Ancestry Group - psychology
Qualitative research
Samoa - ethnology
Studies
Transcultural Nursing
Washington
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Summary:There is renewed interest in the use of family history to predict individual disease susceptibility, and as a result, standardized online family history tools are being developed and marketed as a “new genetic test.” It is not known how cultural variations in definitions of family influence collection of these data or what is the best format to use. This is significant given that the populations who carry the greatest burden of the target diseases have not been considered in efforts to test these tools. A qualitative study with a convenience sample of 19 Japanese Americans and Samoan Americans, two groups at high risk for type 2 diabetes, was conducted to explore the process of collecting family history. A particularly strong finding was the high degree of acceptance experienced by the participants with the process and their pride in visualizing their family graphically displayed in pedigrees. It was also found that Samoans included those linked by nonbiological ties in their families, which reflects their cultural practices. Further research is needed to assess the most effective and efficient way to gather family history given the complexities surrounding the deceptively simple concept of family.
ISSN:1043-6596
1552-7832
DOI:10.1177/1043659609334931