141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

289020
Bring a comadre: Motivating poor, uneducated and uninsured Latinas for cancer screening

Monday, November 4, 2013 : 12:50 PM - 1:10 PM

Martha Martinez, MSN RNC CNS WHCNP , Department of Family and Community Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio School of Nursing, San Antonio, TX
Luis Velez, MD PhD MPH , DePelchin Children's Center, Houston, TX
“Bring a comadre” is a peer-based education/motivation program for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening among poor,uneducated,underserved and uninsured populations in Laredo, Texas. The project has been implemented by Mercy Ministries of Laredo and includes: promotora-based outreach through “platicas” in the community and at MML clinics; through direct telephone contact with patients past-due for their breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening; mailed reminder cards and telephone calls to patients when the date for their screening tests approaches; scheduling screening appointments at point of contact in the community; peer-to-peer motivation using a snow-balling strategy getting individuals who have been contacted to bring another person from their family or community who also needs screening services, through the approach “bring a comadre”; partnering with local television stations to air four-county-wide mass media messages using PSA's produced by the Cancer Therapy and Research Center at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio – Institute for Health Promotion Research; and reinforcing messages from clinical nurses and promotoras at every point of contact with the patient, using evidence based, culturally appropriate educational materials. Pre and post evaluation has shown a 10% increase in the proportion of participants who understand the need for cancer screening, a 90% change from ‘no intention' or ‘not sure' to ‘intend' to attend their scheduled appointment, and a 52% compliance with programmed screening appointments. Participants who show more resistance to the program's strategy tend to be older. Younger women show strong intentions to have the exams done when required.

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

Learning Objectives:
Describe a community based approached to providing cuturally appropriate cancer screening education to poor uneducated latina women in a border city in Texas.

Keywords: Cancer Screening, Community Health Promoters

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Principle practice has been providing care to unfunded patients in a latino community with a focus on prevention and early detection of chronic or debilitating illness. I have evaluated health education strategies to change the use of the health care system for prevetion and early detection by a population that traditionally uses the system for episodic care only.
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.