Physicians' strategies for using family history data: having the data is not the same as using the data.

Objective: To identify needs in a clinical decision support tool development by exploring how primary care providers currently collect and use family health history (FHH).

Design: Survey questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were administered to a mix of primary and specialty care clinicians within the University of Utah Health system (40 surveys, 12 interviews).

Results: Three key themes emerged regarding providers' collection and use of FHH: (1) Strategies for collecting FHH vary by level of effort; (2) Documentation practices extend beyond the electronic health record's dedicated FHH module; and (3) Providers desire feedback from genetic services consultation and are uncertain how to refer patients to genetic services.