Justin B. Dickerson, Matthew Lee Smith, Erica Sosa, E. Lisako J. McKyer and Marcia G. Ory
Objectives: To examine young women’s perceived responsibility for initiating family health history discussion with their primary care providers when associated with individuals with heart disease.
Methods:Data were obtained from an internet-based survey administered to 232 young women enrolled at a large university. Exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used to relate these women’s health beliefs to their perceived responsibility for initiating family health history discussion with their physicians.
Results:Heart disease self-risk factors were positively related (β = 0.21, p = 0.005) to the physician being responsible for initiating family health history discussion. Motivation from friends and acquaintances to obtain family health history was positively related (β = -0.17, p = 0.022) to the woman being responsible for initiating family health history discussion.
Conclusion: Friends and social networks play an important role in how young women perceive their responsibility for initiating family health history discussion with their primary care providers.