253839 Understanding knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of fathers that may influence women who are eligible to participate and remain in the NCS

Monday, October 31, 2011: 1:00 PM

Deidre Sepavich, MBA , National Children's Study Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Shrewsbury, MA
     
Previous research has identified the influence of male partners on general health behaviors of women. Anecdotal data from field operations at several NCS Vanguard Sites have supported these findings, indicating that male partners may influence a woman's decision to participate in the NCS.

This work focuses on identifying the underlying factors that may influence the engagement and support of the male partners for participation in the NCS.

Focus groups were conducted with fathers for two purposes: (1) to identify and rank the relative importance of determinants of fathers' decisions to participate in the NCS and (2) to develop motivational messages and recommendations for recruiters supported by educational materials aimed at enhancing fathers' engagement and support for the NCS.

Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify what influences the decision making process for participation in the NCS among fathers or expectant fathers. 2. Identify and rank the relative importance of fathers’ decisions to participate in the National Children’s Study. 3. Share insight gathered from fathers on expectations of personal gains from study participation and incentives that may be useful to assist with recruitment and retention. 4. Share insight gathered from fathers regarding ways to increase trust between researchers, eligible women and the family support system.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I oversee and coordinate the implementation of a Formative Research Study that seeks to identify the underlying factors that may influence the engagement and support of the male partners for participation in the NCS. The field work entail conducting focus groups fathers and/or male partners to inquire about their decision-making process for participation in the NCS; the influence on their partners’ participation in the NCS; and the mechanisms that may help facilitate their recruitment and retention.
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: Considering the Role of Fathers in the National Children’s Study
See more of: Men's Health Caucus