New Workbook Helps Families Track Chronic Disease Risks Through History

A new tool is helping families assess their risk of chronic diseases using personal health history. Developed by researchers at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), the Families SHARE workbook has shown promising results in African American communities. The workbook provides tailored family trees, disease explanations, and lifestyle guidance to encourage proactive health discussions. The workbook was created to address the higher rates of chronic illnesses among African Americans. Conditions like heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer appear more frequently in this group compared to others in the U.S. Researchers at NHGRI designed the tool to make risk assessment simpler through family history tracking.

A study published in *Public Health Genomics* tested the workbook’s effectiveness. Results showed that 98% of participants could evaluate their own disease risk using it. Additionally, 70% shared the workbook with relatives, and three-quarters expressed willingness to discuss it with healthcare providers in the future. Since its launch in 2012, the workbook has been refined under the leadership of Dr. Laura Koehly. Updates have focused on making it more accessible and user-friendly. Plans are now underway to adapt it for other diverse communities. Future versions may also include community education programmes based on feedback from users.

The Families SHARE workbook has already helped many assess their health risks and share findings with family. Its ongoing development aims to reach even broader audiences. With further adaptations and education initiatives, the tool could play a key role in reducing chronic disease disparities across different groups.