Patients' Perspectives on Identity, Ancestry and Genetics

This study will collect the opinions, understandings and personal health care experiences of multiracial persons of African and European ancestry. Understanding multiracial patients' beliefs and experiences about their race, ethnicity, ancestral origin and the genetic components of diseases can provide important data for developing ways to communicate how human genetic variation is related to self-identified race and ethnicity. The study will:

• Investigate multiracial individuals' beliefs about biological and genetic differences based on race and ethnicity;
• Collect stories of identity, ancestry and clinical experiences of multiracial individuals with one parent of African ancestry and one parent of European ancestry;
• Investigate multiracial patients' experiences regarding family health history and communication of genetic risk of disease.

Persons 21 years of age or older in the Atlanta, Georgia, or Washington, D.C., metropolitan areas who are from a multiracial background and have used health care services in the last 2 years may be eligible for this study. Participants are interviewed one-on-one for about 2 hours to gather information about their background, family ancestry, self-identity, race and ethnicity, health care interactions and genetics and health. Each participant completes a short questionnaire before and after the interview.

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