189967 State Departments of Health access to care, health information, and education outreach to families and diverse communities: A national phone and direct mail survey

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Scott Thomas Williams , Men's Health Network, Washington, DC
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: State Departments of Health provide this nation's communities and its citizens with critical access to care, health information and services, as well as educational outreach programming. An effort to explore available resources for gender based health services and the degree to which women's and men's health is institutionalized was undertaken. This survey was conducted to serve as a benchmark and discussion point for initial development of Healthy People 2020 objectives.

METHOD: A national phone and direct mail survey was administered to the Secretary/Director of 50 State Departments of Health (including Washington, DC) as well as the Governor's Office, where appropriate.

RESULT: Of those states responding to the survey, 33 indicated that they have established an office or coordinator for women's health. Nine of these states also have an office or coordinator for men's health. All 50 states and D.C. have a website that contains information specifically related to women's health. 15 states (including D.C.) have a website with information specifically covering men's health. 36 states have established and continue to have a commission to study and make recommendations regarding the health or general status of women. 6 states have a comparable entity for the health or general status of men. All states have women's health contacts via the federal Office of Women's Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. At this time there is no federal Office of Men's Health.

CONCLUSION: The survey results highlight the need for concrete plans and policies to address these unmet needs and underserved populations. Prospects exist to address the gender gap within State Departments of Health relating to education, outreach, services, and access to care. It is imperative to perform a comprehensive environmental scan of current women's and men's health tools, resources, and infrastructure by state.

Learning Objectives:
Step 1: Session participants will acquire new information and late breaking survey research data on State Department of Health access to care and health education outreach infrastructure for women and men. Session participants will be able to view/utilize a clearly defined state-based matrix of health resources currently available, and those coming soon, for both women and men. Step 2: Learners will take away the following learning’s (know how) in order to implement pertinent action items and strategic recommendations: - Evaluate the current women’s and men’s health tools, resources, and infrastructure in each State Department of Health in communities which they serve. - Construct a clearly defined plan and policy to address unmet needs, underserved populations, and non-traditional health targets. - Prioritize target demographics in need of relevant and specific health education and outreach efforts based on current State Department of Health survey results. - Recognize current areas of opportunity to close the gender gap on State Department of Health education, outreach, and access to care initiatives. Step 3: 1. Define, by state, the health resources and infrastructure available to members of each community in which they (public health professionals) serve. 2. Recognize/list, by state, the availability of State Department of Health Women’s Health and Men’s Health Coordinators. 3. Identify/list, by state, the existence of State Commission’s on Women’s Health and Men’s Health. 4. Utilize US Census Bureau data to show the number of males per 100 females by state. Essentially, identify states where burden on aging women (retiring women) may be higher – premature death and disability impact on family. 5. Develop a communications plan to articulate to the community, other public health stakeholders, as well as fellow colleagues, the availability of state websites on women’s and men’s health. 6. Categorize survey findings to enable them to develop programmatic goals and strategies.

Keywords: Access to Care, Public Health Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Professional Publications/Affiliations: • Peer Reviewer and Contributing Author – American Journal of Men’s Health (SAGE Publication) • Williams, S. T., & Bruno, A (2007). Worksite wellness programs: What is working. American Journal of Men’s Health, 1 (Number 2), 154-156. • Williams, S. T. (2007). The value of prevention for American men and their families. American Journal of Men’s Health, 1 (Number 3), 228-229. • Williams, S.T. & Fairfax, S (2007). Smoking as a Man’s Issue: Making the Case. American Journal of Men’s Health, (in print). Relevant Speaking Engagements: • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – “Prevention and Men’s Health” (September 2007) • Massachusetts Medical Society – “The Politics of Men’s Health” (May 2007) • World Congress on Men’s Health – “The Politics of Men’s Health” (September 2005 & 2007, Vienna, Austria) • Winnebago Tribe/Indian Health Service – “Prevention for Men and Their Families” (June 2007) • State Medicaid Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committees (New York/Virginia) – “ED and co-morbidities” (Oct. 2006) • United States Senate – “Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Efforts within Federal Government”(June 2005) • State Symposia on Men’s Health (Tennessee, Maryland, North Carolina) – “Men’s Health Landscape 2006-2007”
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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