 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
|
| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Othelia W. Pryor, PhD, Department of Medicine and OMERAD, Michigan State University, B337 Clinical Center, East Lansing, MI 48824-1313, 517-432-2085, othelia.pryor@ht.msu.edu and Anita L. Turner, MA ; R N, Public Health Nursing, Ingham County Health Department, P O Box 30161, 5303 S. Cedar Street, Lansing, MI 48909.
Purpose: To demonstrate an effective community capacity model that was used to instill trust and engage African Americans in issues pertinent to maintaining and acquiring healthy lifestyle choices. Background: Research has repeatedly shown the lack of trust African American have in the medical profession. Over the last several decades, the health of the Nation’s population has improved while there continues to be striking differences in the mortality and morbidities among African Americans for preventable diseases. Research has shown that lifestyle choices and environmental issues account for nearly 70% of the factors that impact risk factors. Although the population is inundated with health education information, African Americans in general are not making the lifestyle changes to influence personal health outcomes. It is conceivable that a lack of trust by African Americans in health education programs might be influenced by the deficit approach or perspective researchers and health professional oftentimes have of African American communities. The synergistic collaborative model offered in this presentation, recognized the capacity of the African American community, utilized formal and informal community communication channels and acknowledged the “gatekeeping” power resident in local organizations. Research Methods/Design: An evaluation that assessed the importance and trust of participants’ relationship with the information presented and their affiliation with the organization hosting the community education event. Conclusion: Community based education programs for African Americans that use a community capacity mode and are hosted by organizations familiar to participants are important to attendees and can increase their trust of the information given.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: African American, Community Assets
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Collaborative parternership between researcher from Department of Medicine in the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University and organizations in the African American community will be discussed
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am an employee of Michigan State University. The Department of Medicine conducted this research with a community education grant received from Pfizer Inc.