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

Abstract #63290

Jewel Deschamps-Gopher, Jessica VanKuiken, Adina Smith, PhD, Kari Andersen, BS, Suzanne Christopher, PhD, and Alma Knows His Gun McCormick. Department of Health and Human Development, Montana State University, 104 Hosaeus Complex, Bozeman, MT 59717, 406-994-4001, jewel_g@hotmail.com

This community based participatory project, Messengers for Health, aims to increase the proportion of women on the Apsáalooke reservation who receive a Pap test and who have an understanding of cervical health topics such as who should receive a Pap test and risk factors for cervical cancer. An advisory board was formed to provide knowledge and input on the project. The advisory board consists of members of the Apsáalooke community who are cancer survivors, health providers, health administrators, and others interested in women’s health. An evaluation was conducted with advisory board members. Topics included functions of the board, role of individual members, suggestions for additional members, and recommendations for improvement. Open-ended interviews with both active and inactive (did not attend monthly meetings) advisory board members were conducted. Interviews were audio taped, transcribed, and data were analyzed using INVivo software. Members were provided the evaluation questions prior to the interview so they would have time to consider their responses. Advisory board members had a number of suggestions for improving the role of the board and the project. Examples included adding more cancer survivors, tribal health board members, younger people and more males. Further suggestions included rotating the location of the meetings, continuing to solicit community input, and continuing to increase awareness and promotion of early detection. Changes made to the project based on this evaluation will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

1. To understand the role of an advisory board in a community based participatory project.
• To describe evaluation methods and outcomes for an advisory board based on the Apsáalooke Reservation. 3. To relate how qualitative evaluation was used to improve an advisory board the Messengers for Health Project.

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.