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

Abstract #111995

Ann Brekke Yungert, RN BSN PHN, Ethnic Health Institute of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 3012 Summit Street 3rd Floor, Oakland, CA 94609, 510-869-8227, yungera@sutterhealth.org and Carol N. D'Onofrio, DrPH, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 3 Requa Place, Piedmont, CA 94611.

Over a 3-year period, Peer Counselors played an integral role in creating, implementing, evaluating, and strengthening a unique, full-service prostate cancer screening program. This model program, undertaken by the Ethnic Health Institute, provided education, screening, and navigation to African American men in Alameda County, CA, where the prostate cancer mortality rate is 2.5 times higher for African-Americans than Caucasians. The involvement of Peer Counselors (community health workers) transformed what otherwise would have been a traditional screening effort into a dynamic and engaging outreach project. As a result, 25 community screenings were held, serving 859 men. 59% of the men were screened for the first time and by the conclusion of the project 84% committed to being screened annually. In this interactive presentation, the Project Coordinator and a Peer Counselor will describe this innovative program, the challenges encountered, and the outcomes; focusing on the peer counselors' critical role as instructors, mentors, and advocates. Peer Counselors achieved success by educating the community about prostate cancer, risk reduction, regular screening adherence, informed decision making, patient-physician communication, and self-advocacy. Additionally, they identified un-met community needs and recommended ways to address them. Through this comprehensive continuum of care, the Peer Counselors built a brotherhood with the men in the community based on trust and mutual respect. This model holds great promise for reducing prostate cancer disparities by providing education and increasing access to screening for African American men. Comments and questions from the audience will be invited.

Learning Objectives: