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

Abstract #119782

Amid Ismail, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, 1011 N. University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078, 734-647-9190, ismailai@umich.edu

This paper presents the plans and progress to date of the Detroit Oral Cancer Prevention Project that is funded by a grant from NIH/NIDCR and the Delta Dental Fund of Michigan. The project targets African-American adults in Detroit. The goal of the campaign is to promote early screening and prevention of oral cancer. The project has developed a 2-year multi-media campaign that includes billboards, radio messages, newspaper advertisements, and community-based health educational sessions by trained staff. The project also operates a screening clinic that provides free-of-charge screenings. A biopsy service was also organized as well as referrals for surgical care. In addition to the media campaign, the project provides a free CDE and CME course that will target dental and primary healthcare providers in Wayne County (Detroit) and seven other comparison countries. The Michigan Cancer Registry and SEER statistics from Detroit will be used to assess the outcomes over the next 4 years. The media campaign has been designed using the expertise of a marketing company with prior experience in organizing oral cancer campaigns. The marketing plan selected the message “Oral Cancer? Get Checked before it's too late” as the starting theme is supported by images of real residents of the city who cannot eat, sing, or kiss because of oral cancer. The next theme will focus on “beating” and “knocking” out oral cancer with images of athletes. The campaign has a 24-hour information hotline (1-877-7 Checked). Preliminary data will be presented at the symposium.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the design and implementation of the Detroit Oral Cancer Prevention Project

Keywords: Oral Health Needs, Cardiorespiratory

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.

Recorded presentation