Teaching the "Family History" Through Group Reflection

Background: Family health history (FH) is a useful tool for assessing health risk and improving communication among family members, but remains underutilized in primary care practice. The goals of this study were to assess the utility of a content-driven group reflection on family history on student learning, and to equip them with tools to improve their skills in FH assessment. Methods: A 90-minute pilot Family History and Communication Reflection module was developed and made available to first and second-year medical students completing a longitudinal ambulatory clerkship; a group reflection model was used. 16 students (13% of the first year class) participated and 8 students completed the evaluation form. Results: The majority of students were satisfied with the module, would recommend the module to another student, and felt prepared or very prepared to incorporate FH assessment tools into their clinical practice. Conclusions: The pilot FH module was well-received by first-year medical students as a strategy for emphasizing the importance of assessing FH in a busy primary care setting and providing practical tools for FH. The reflective learning approach was cited as helpful for using and building upon prior clerkship experience. Family health history (FH) continues to be an important factor for understanding a patient's risk fo