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

Abstract #65851

Carol Mangone, PhD, CHES¹, MaryEllen Conn, MS², Irene Tessaro, DrPH¹, and Irfan Parkar, MBBS¹. (1) Center for Healthy Communities, West Virginia University, 3040 University Avenue, P.O. Box 6275, Morgantown, WV 26506, (2) Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, West Virginia University, P. O. Box 9350, Morgantown, WV 26506

Health disparities are great in Appalachia where social and behavorial factors put many individuals at high risk for increased mortality from colorectal cancer. Many of the regions of Appalachia, particularly rural areas, have high poverty, low education, and high unemployment. Through the channel of the church, we plan to reach an Appalachian population at risk for colorectal cancer because of the prevalence of risk factors and lack of screening. The recruitment process began with identifying denominations, churches, and their sizes in the target geographic area (Ohio River Valley). Using a telephone service online database to access telephone numbers, a telephone script was designed to determine eligibility. Step 2 divided churches by parish nurse and health ministries; which were grouped into three regions based on their geopgrahic location within the Ohio River Valley. After the randomization, a second round of telephone calls began. These calls were our "qualifying recruitment" calls. A meeting was scheduled and a recruitment team met with the church pastor, parish nurse/or health ministry, to present the program and solicit their participation. We were successful in recruiting sixteen churches from five demoninations into the program.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify eligibility requirement protocol to screen churches for recruitment.
• Develop a recruitment strategy to motivate parish nurse/health ministry/clergy to participate in the program.
• Identify ways to partner with the church to share program development responsibilities.

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.