The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #58214

K. Viswanath, Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch, National Cancer Institute, 6130 Executive Blvd., Room 4070, MSC 7365, Bethesda, MD 20892-7365, 301-594-6644, viswanav@mail.nih.gov, John Elder, PhD, San Diego State University, 9245 Sky Park Court, Suite 221, San Diego, CA 92123, Diana J. Wilkie, PhD, RN, FAAN, Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 S. Damen Avenue (MC 802), Chicago, IL 60612-7350, Mary B. Daly, MD, PhD, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 7701 Burholme Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111, Aimee James, PhD, MPH, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 100 West Drive, CB#7295, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, and Matthew W Kreuter, PhD, MPH, Health Communication Research Laboratory, School of Public Health, Saint Louis University, 3545 Lafayette, Salus Center Suite 408, Saint Louis, MO 63104.

This session will describe innovative and state-of-the-art methods for the prevention and control of various forms of cancer. The studies presented culminate a five year initiative by the National Cancer Institute, which issued an RFA in 1998 for studies that would capture changes in the health communications and social marketing fields, especially as applied to diverse and high risk populations. The proposed symposium presents a wide range of cancer prevention and control experiences, from nutritional and physical activity communication for primary prevention, to genetic counseling for high risk individuals, to fatigue management for individuals under treatment, to communications for cancer survivors. Moreover, the populations under study vary substantially, including Latinas, African – Americans, and whites. The discussant, an expert in the field of health communications and a senior administrator at NCI, will present the NIH perspective on and prospectus for cancer and general health communication research and application.

Learning Objectives:

Those who attend this presentation will be able to:
• Understand the different functions of health messages.
• Describe ways in which reactions to different types of tailoring may vary in different a) ethnic populations and b) individuals at various stages of risk and disease.
• Critically evaluate the relative effectiveness of interpersonal and print communication in developing effective health communication.

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.