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

Abstract #112253

Suzanne Heurtin-Roberts, PhD, MSW, Basic and Biobehavioral Research Branch, National Cancer Institute, 6130 Executive Blvd.,EPN 4054, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301-594-6655, sheurtin@mail.nih.gov

This roundtable discussion will consider the possible contributions and obstacles of health policy research in addressing the relationship of behavior and environment in reducing cancer health disparities. Behavioral research in cancer control encompasses a number of areas such as reduction of risk behaviors and behavioral factors in the utilization of prevention and treatment services, communications behavior, clinical behaviors of health care providers and decision-making by agents of third party payors. Much of behavioral research in cancer focuses on behavior change at the individual level. Another, perhaps less utilized, approach, is to amend the environmental context in which behavior occurs. Policy is perhaps the most potent tool we have to bring about change in environmental context, however, influencing behavior at the population level, and potentially having a widespread impact on health. Yet we know that policy can have negative as well as positive effects on physical, social, political and economic environments. In the proposed discussion, the following questions will be considered: How can research explore the positive and negative effects of policies upon environments and behavior. What are some of the social and cultural values upon which policies are based? How do differing policies promote or reduce disparities in cancer prevention and outcomes? The roundtable will consider what policy research is needed to facilitate health promoting environments and behaviors to reduce or eliminate cancer health disparities. Finally, what social and cultural values might be necessary for the development of such policies?

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• discuss how policies influence environments for behavior that reduce or augment cancer health disparities
• describe social and cultural values underlying policies related to cancer health disparities
• Identify and discuss policy research necessary to support environments and behaviors that will reduce health disparities.

Keywords: Policy/Policy Development, Cancer

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.