Family History Snapshot: Pedigrees Rita Leone, RN, MSN, CMSRN

The Pedigree Drawing of family tree Aids in spotting patterns which may be helpful in diagnosing or managing an individual’s health Specific symbols/”rules”

Why is Family History Important?

*National Society of Genetic Counselors website:www.nsgc.org Sample Pedigree *National Society of Genetic Counselors website:www.nsgc.org

Creating a Pedigree: Easy as 1-2-3 Creating a Pedigree: Easy as 1) Obtain info from family 2) Draw basic outline 3) Record info

Pedigrees: Keeping It Simple! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuk0W10EveU

Step 1: Obtaining Family History Write list of all family members—including yourself Grandparents Parents Children Brothers/sisters Aunts/uncles Nieces/nephews Cousins Be respectful of privacy as health is sensitive topic

Step 1: What information is needed Age/DOB Date of death Ethnicity/race/nationality Medical Conditions Include birth defects Learning problems/mental retardation For those with medical conditions… Smoking, exercise, diet Age of diagnosis

Step 2: Drawing Pedigree Symbols Used

Step 2: Drawing Pedigree Start with yourself Place yourself towards the bottom/middle of center of page as older generations will go above you

Step 2: Drawing Pedigree

Step 2: Drawing Pedigree Draw siblings next to yourself Older siblings on left, younger on right Then draw vertical lines up from each sibling & connect vertical lines with horizontal line (sibship) *half-siblings to be added later

Step 2: Drawing Pedigree

Step 2: Drawing Pedigree Draw your parents above yourself Horizontal line connecting parents. Then draw a vertical line from horizontal line to your symbol (if only child) or sibship line Horizontal line is relationship line. Draw diagonal line through line if divorced. If either parent has children with different partner, draw 2nd relationship line to other partner. Half siblings should have vertical line stemming from the new relationship line

Step 2: Drawing Pedigree

Step 2: Drawing Pedigree Aunts/Uncles (parent’s siblings) are drawn next to them & connected with sibship line OK to not include spouses of parents’ siblings to save space. When drawing cousins, connect their line of descent directly to their parent or to parents’ relationship line. Same for nieces & nephews

Step 2: Drawing Pedigree

Step 2: Drawing Pedigree Draw maternal grandparents above your mother, or your mother’s sibship line. Connect grandparents with relationship line (if applicable) & draw line of descent to your mother or mother’s sibship line Same for paternal grandparents (only above father’s square)

Step 2: Drawing Pedigree

Step 3: Record Info on Pedigree Transfer family history info onto pedigree Age/BD, date of death, medical conditions Electronic formatting available/programs

Step 3: Putting it all together!

My Family Health Portrait You can create your own personalized pedigree! Enter your family health history. Print your family health history to share with family or your health care worker. Save your family health history so you can update it over time https://familyhistory.hhs.gov/fhh-web/home.action

Discussion Questions Why would a pedigree be useful to physician, nurse or genetic counselor? What can be determined from looking @ the example pedigree? If you were the physician or genetic counselor, what would you discuss with the family Should all physicians be required to ask their patients about their family health history? Why or why not?