249788 Integrating emerging technology with community health education: The utility of an interactive online media-based training curriculum for prostate cancer education

Monday, October 31, 2011

Euna M. August, MPH , Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Sean Dickerson , Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL
Dawood H. Sultan , Department of Health Policy and Management, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Mallory Hussin , Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL
Richard G. Roetzheim, MD , College of Medicine (Family Medicine), University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
B. Lee Green, PhD, MEd , Vice President, Moffitt Diversity, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL
Brian Rivers, PhD , Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL
Background: Although prostate cancer rates have improved overall, African Americans experience alarmingly high mortality rates. Community advocates cite pervasive feelings of distrust and fear of the healthcare system, as well as discrimination and racism experienced within it, as critical factors in this disparity. Online media provides an opportunity to circumvent these concerns by providing a technological interface for the delivery of unbiased health information in an accessible manner. The formative evaluative data will be presented during this session. Methods: Individual interviews were conducted with prostate cancer survivors, healthcare providers, and technology experts. The interviews with survivors and providers informed the content of the educational curriculum on prostate cancer for African Americans, whereas technology experts provided information on how the internet can best be used to purvey information. Pretesting and learner verification was performed through additional interviews with African American men to ensure appropriateness and relevance of curriculum content and design. Results: This iterative, participatory community-based process resulted in a comprehensive, culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate online educational curriculum for outreach to African American men with or without prostate cancer. This online resource provides a framework for training community members in the provision of accurate and credible information in a manner that is accessible and appealing to the target community. Conclusions: The innovativeness of the new media and its application to health interventions in underserved communities provides an opportunity for tailored, standardized education and outreach. For prostate cancer education with African American men, online media may serve as a source for accurate, reliable information that alleviates the perceived bias and distrust of traditional healthcare models.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Communication and informatics
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. Explain the utility of online media in health education with African American men. 2. Describe approaches to the development of culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate online media. 3. Present formative evaluation data related to the development of the content and technological interface.

Keywords: Cancer Prevention, African American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Coordinated and facilitated research
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.

See more of: Mobile and Web-Based Tools in HIT
See more of: Health Informatics Information Technology