Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111599

Ronda S. Henry-Tillman, MD¹, William Rutledge, MD¹, Regina Gibson, RN, CHES¹, Kelly A. Duke, MA¹, Rise Jones, PhD, MS², Dianne Rucinski, PhD³, Eric Siegel, MS¹, W. Alvin Torrence, MS¹, Chara Stewart, MPH¹, Kimberlyn Blann-Anderson, BS¹, Larry Belleton, BS⁴, Lindsey Fincher, BS¹, Paul G. Greene, PhD⁵, Billy R. Thomas, MD, MPH¹, and Deborah O. Erwin, PhD¹. (1) Cancer Control, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Cancer Control Outreach Center, 300 South University Ave, Little Rock, AR 72205, 501-686-6503, henrytillmanrondas@uams.edu, (2) Health Research and Policy Centers, University of Illinois at Chicago, 850 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60607, (3) Institue for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois-Chicago, Naomi Morris Collaborative for Assessment and Evaluation, 1747 West Roosevelt, Chicago, IL 60608, (4) Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation, PO Box 7317, Little Rock, AR 72217, (5) College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham, Slot 820, Little Rock, AR 72205

BACKGROUND. The origin of cancer disparities and mortality in Arkansas is multi-factorial. In response to a cooperative agreement with the National Cancer Institute's Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities, the Arkansas Special Populations Access Network (ASPAN) was developed at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences/Arkansas Cancer Research Center. ASPAN's partnership with primary care physicians of the Arkansas Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association through the Cancer Education Awareness Program is the focus of this presentation. We hypothesized that physician and patient education would increase cancer preventive screenings among medically underserved communities. METHODS. A quasi-experimental intervention was employed at four primary care clinics that included: 1) Physician Education to increase awareness of risk factors and cancer screening; 2) Patient Education to increase regular screening. Baseline and post intervention reviews of patient records (n=200 for each) aged 40 and older were utilized to assess the rate of breast, prostate, and colorectal screening conducted. For patient education, patients (n=120) were interviewed via a 34-item assessment. RESULTS. Chart audits showed significant (p <0.0001) increases for prostate screening. Conversely, increases for breast (p =0.0962) and colorectal screening (p =0.0652) were marginally significant. Patient questionnaires showed patient intent to receive cancer screenings associated with knowledge consumption of animal fat (p <.001), dietary fiber (p <0.013), and knowledge of mammograms (p <0.001). Physicians perceived their screening rates to be high, while intervention outcomes revealed they were low. CONCLUSIONS. This multi-pronged intervention increased screening rates and suggests that increased patient awareness increases patient's intent to receive cancer screenings.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the advantage of linking community physicians with a large academic hospital
• Describe several interventions that can assist physicians and patients increase their knowledge of preventive cancer screenings.

Keywords: Cancer Screening, Collaboration

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.