BACKGROUND: It has been postulated that systematic enquiry about patients' family histories of inherited illnesses would lead to a population of 'worried well'. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate if the use of a family history screening questionnaire (FHSQ) as part of a general practice health check leads to psychological distress. METHOD: We conducted a randomized controlled trial of a self-administered FHSQ in a single general practice. Individuals who had not had a health check within the previous 2 years were randomized within three age group strata to intervention group (receiving health check and FHSQ) or control group (only receiving health check). A total of 156 patients were offered health checks; 100 accepted and 76 of them were followed through to the 3-month end point. Responses to the six-item Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Perception of Health questionnaire and Family History Concern questionnaire were compared between intervention and control groups. RESULTS: A two-way analysis of variance on the STAI scores 1 and 2 weeks after the health check with baseline scores as a covariate showed that at both times anxiety was higher in the intervention group than in the controls (F = 6.4; d.f. = 1,73; P = 0.014). Three months later, there was no significant difference between the two groups. The Perception of Health questionnaire only showed a significant result at 1 week, the intervention group having a more pessimistic response to the question eliciting patient's concerns about future health (P = 0.025). CONCLUSION: Short-term psychological distress due to the family history screening questionnaire was identified but did not persist.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: It has been postulated that systematic enquiry about patients' family histories of inherited illnesses would lead to a population of 'worried well'. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate if the use of a family history screening questionnaire (FHSQ) as part of a general practice health check leads to psychological distress. METHOD: We conducted a randomized controlled trial of a self-administered FHSQ in a single general practice. Individuals who had not had a health check within the previous 2 years were randomized within three age group strata to intervention group (receiving health check and FHSQ) or control group (only receiving health check). A total of 156 patients were offered health checks; 100 accepted and 76 of them were followed through to the 3-month end point. Responses to the six-item Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Perception of Health questionnaire and Family History Concern questionnaire were compared between intervention and control groups. RESULTS: A two-way analysis of variance on the STAI scores 1 and 2 weeks after the health check with baseline scores as a covariate showed that at both times anxiety was higher in the intervention group than in the controls (F = 6.4; d.f. = 1,73; P = 0.014). Three months later, there was no significant difference between the two groups. The Perception of Health questionnaire only showed a significant result at 1 week, the intervention group having a more pessimistic response to the question eliciting patient's concerns about future health (P = 0.025). CONCLUSION: Short-term psychological distress due to the family history screening questionnaire was identified but did not persist.
Authors: Liesbeth Claassen; Lidewij Henneman; A Cecile J W Janssens; Miranda Wijdenes-Pijl; Nadeem Qureshi; Fiona M Walter; Paula W Yoon; Danielle R M Timmermans Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2010-05-13 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: L C de Jong-Potjer; J Elsinga; S le Cessie; K M van der Pal-de Bruin; A Knuistingh Neven; S E Buitendijk; W J J Assendelft Journal: BMC Fam Pract Date: 2006-11-03 Impact factor: 2.497
Authors: Nadeem Qureshi; Sarah Armstrong; Paula Saukko; Tracey Sach; Jo Middlemass; Phil H Evans; Joe Kai; Hannah Farrimond; Steve E Humphries Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2009-10-12 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: Miranda Wijdenes; Lidewij Henneman; Nadeem Qureshi; Piet J Kostense; Martina C Cornel; Danielle R M Timmermans Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2013-05-17 Impact factor: 3.295