141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

281951
A comprehensive, mixed methods assessment of African-American men's and women's health and cancer decision making

Monday, November 4, 2013 : 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM

Dawnyea Jackson, PhD candidate , Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Otis Owens, MPH , Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Tracey Thomas, MA, MS , Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Daniela B Friedman, PhD , Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
James R. Hebert, ScD , State-wide Cancer Prevention and Control Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Background

African Americans (AAs) are more likely to develop and die from cancer than any other racial or ethnic group. Numerous factors serve as barriers to informed health decision making (e.g., cancer screenings) among AAs. Given this cancer disparity, the purpose of this study was to use a mixed methods approach to assess AA men's and women's (1) knowledge and attitudes regarding prostate cancer prevention and screening, (2) health and cancer-related decision making practices, and (3) perceived impact of a community photovoice experience and booklet.

Methods

Data were collected from a total of 81 participants using qualitative focus groups (81 participants), quantitative pre/post survey data from a community education program, (56 of 81 participants), and a photovoice experience (15 of 81 participants). All data were collected in South Carolina.

Results

Focus group findings showed that men often relied on their female significant other and doctors for health-related information and decisions. In line with men's decision making, women described their role and responsibility as assisting with their male partners' health and cancer-related decisions. AA men's and women's prostate knowledge scores increased significantly between pre- and post-tests. Finally, most of the photovoice participants reported that the experience and booklet had influenced a change in their dietary behaviors and health decision making.

Conclusions

Future community-based formative research and intervention work should consider using a similar mixed methods approach to explore a more complete picture of health- and cancer-related decision making in AA communities.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education

Learning Objectives:
Explain the benefits of using multiple methods to understand health and cancer-related decision making in AA communities Describe the photovoice method and present data as provided by community members Evaluate the effectiveness of a prostate cancer education program

Keywords: Decision-Making, Cancer Screening

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract Author on the content I am responsible for because I am a project coordinator for the prostate cancer pilot education project that is the focus of this abstract.
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.