Introduction
In 1997 the American Social Health Association entered into a five-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a national model to increase Pap-testing and follow-up among low-income African American and Hispanic women. We identified the communities of Durham and Chatham Counties in North Carolina as pilot sites for developing a replicable model for reaching under-served women in both urban and rural settings. This project is now used as a model for other local and national organizations.
Objectives
Through this study, ASHA sought to:
- assess patient's and provider's knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding the prevention, detection and control of cervical cancer;
- identify cultural and communication barriers to timely and adequate gynecological health care
- increase awareness about sexual health issues and cervical cancer prevention
- increase Pap-testing and follow-up among high-risk women in the pilot geographic areas
- improve the quality of health care provider counseling and education surrounding the prevention of cervical cancer and the psychological issues related to diagnosis and treatment.
Activities
- Conducted a community-based needs assessment and a qualitative study of patient's and provider's health beliefs and practices surrounding cervical cancer risk.
- Designed, pilot tested, produced and dsseminated culturally appropriate educational materials.
- Designed, pilot tested, implemented, and evaluated curricula for community-based workshops and conducted pilot workshops in English and Spanish.
- Trained graduate student interns from local universities to assist with workshop implementation.
- Provided cervical cancer prevention information though various services, including a hotline, a recorded message (cold-line), two websites, and an email answering service.
- Developed two Web-based continuing medical education (CME) courses for health care providers in collaboration with the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP).
- Disseminated findings in presentations and publications.
Outcomes
Two eduational brochures were developed during this project: an English version for African American women; and a Spanish version for Latinas. The brochures can be downloaded free of charge by clicking on the graphics below.
CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
Download them for printing by clicking below.
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Spanish Version |
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English Version |
Curricula for Community Based Workshops and Conducting Pilot Workshops
Community-based educational workshops were developed covering topics such as cervical cancer, Pap-testing, follow-up care, sexually transmitted diseases, and communication with health care providers and partners. The six-session workshop series was designed and implemented with each of the priority populations. The curricula and supporting materials are available, free of charge, by downloading the following files:
ASCCP is offering seven free CME courses, about cervical cancer, on this website: http://cme.asccp.org/home/home.cfm. ASHA was instrumental in developing two of the courses: "Follow-up after an Abnormal Pap: Addressing Barriers" and "Understanding Cultural and Psychosocial Barriers to Pap Testing."
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