Genetics & Family History

In 2001 we conducted the Family History Validation Study, a telephone survey of 1,380 Connecticut residents, which assessed self-reported information about family history of cancer. The study also explored demographic, psychosocial, and medical factors associated with such reports.

Publications

The project has resulted in a publication on the nature of reports provided by survey respondents about the cancer history of other family members:

Wideroff L, Garceau AO, Greene MH, Dunn M, McNeel T, Mai P, Willis G, Gonsalves L, Martin M, Graubard BI. Coherence and Completeness of Population-based Family Cancer Reports. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010 Feb 16. [View Abstract]

A second manuscript has also been published, concerning the validity (sensitivity and specificity) of reports of family cancer history.

Mai PL, Garceau AO, Graubard BI, Dunn M, McNeel TS, Gonsalves L, Gail MH, Greene MH, Willis GB, Wideroff L. Confirmation of family cancer history reported in a population-based survey. J Natl Cancer Inst 2011 May 18;103(10):788-97. [View Abstract]