SHAPE IT (Stroke, Hypertension and Prostate Education Intervention Team) Project – targeting African American men at risk for stroke and prostate cancer

The overall objective of the SHAPE IT Project was the creation of a partnership between community-based organizations, community members and health care providers to reduce the incidence of stroke mortality and morbidity and mortality from prostate cancer in a targeted group of African American men. SHAPE IT reached 6,750 men, 25% of a target population of 27,000 African American men age 35+ in Philadelphia, with multiple programmatic strategies. In addition, 900 men were reached with a comprehensive small group workshop. The SHAPE IT project provided substantial opportunities for community planning, established partnerships that include coordination of a spectrum of health resources, and uses a shared responsibility model of community health planning. This project also revealed new and innovative outreach strategies that proved to be successful in reaching hard-to-reach African American men and more importantly, empowered men to develop relationships with their providers. As a result, 3 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Key activities included: 1) the establishment of a Project Advisory Council consisting of community and organizational representatives; 2) focus groups with men with hypertension, men with prostate cancer, men from the general population, and social support networks of men with and without hypertension; 3) key informant survey results from community change agents such as clergy, parish nurses, directors of senior centers and homeless shelters and addictions counselors, and 4) implementation of multiple large and small group educational programs, including individual and group prostate cancer shared decision counseling. Blood pressure screenings were provided for over 500 men.