The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

4208.0: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 2:50 PM

Abstract #40356

Increasing eye health awareness among Hispanics

Karen Silver, MPH, Office of Communication, Health Education and Public Liaison, National Eye Institute, 31 Center Drive, MSC 2510, Bethesda, MD 20892-2510, 301-496-5248, krs@nei.nih.gov and Rosemary Janiszewski, MS, CHES, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Office of Communication, Health Education and Public Liaison, 31 Center Drive, MSC 2510, Bethesda, MD 20892-2510.

In 1995, the National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP), coordinated by the National Eye Institute, began a successful program to educate Hispanics about diabetic eye disease and the need for Hispanics with diabetes to get regular comprehensive dilated eye exams. The NEHEP recently expanded its reach to a broader Hispanic audience to increase its impact on the Hispanic community’s awareness about the importance of eye health, the need for early detection and timely treatment of glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and other eye conditions, and the availability of rehabilitative services and assistive devices for low vision. Three pilot sites were selected to implement a strategy that uses both a top-down and bottom-up approach in which national efforts feed into and are refined by input from local efforts. At the national level, branded messages and materials increase top-level awareness about the importance of eye health through outreach to important media outlets and national Hispanic leaders. These branded messages and materials are used at the community level where pilot sites allowed the exploration of strategies for reaching Hispanic audiences through different points of entry, adapted messages, and grassroots activities such as incorporation of messages into local health education and social service programs.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants should be able to

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Community-based Interventions II

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA