Abstract for presentation at 11th International Congress of Human Genetics

While family history is an essential tool for cancer risk assessment, numerous barriers including time constraints, competing demands, and lack of knowledge often prevent healthcare providers from collecting and appropriately assessing family cancer history information. Development of family history collection and assessment tools, accessible via the Internet for use by the general public, can assist in this process. The Clinical Cancer Genetics Program at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center has developed a self-administered, computerized, familial cancer risk assessment tool, the Jameslink-OSUCAP (Ohio State University Cancer Assessment Program). Initially available as a touch-screen kiosk, over 10,000 have used the program since 1999. A web-based version, with algorithms that automatically interpret risk and elicit tailored messages using fear appeal theory, became available in Spring 2005. There were 248 users over a eight-month period (April-November 2005). Feedback has been positive with most feeling very comfortable with the tool and many believing that their perception of cancer risk changed. During this time period, efforts to increase the number of users included an marketing campaign with on-line advertisement, community newsletters and articles in health magazines, including the "Physician Practice Journal" that reaches approximately 7,000 primary care physicians in a 40 county area. A dedicated television interview about the risk assessment tool contributed to an increase (May: n=34; June: n=51) in the number of users. Conversely, relocation of the progam within the host site led to a decrease (October: n=32; November: n=3) in usage. Feedback about the tool was sought from the Cancer SIG Education Committee of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. Data regarding promotion of this tool for use by healthcare professionals, including genetic counselors and physicians, will also be available at the time of presentation.