Progress 05/15/06 to 05/15/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The overall goal of cancer prevention and control in the African American population of the District of Columbia was addressed by 1) conducting a series of focus groups using seniors (individuals from 4 different sites in Washington, D.C. one in NW, NE, SE, and SW) in order to determine the sources (e.g. mass media, printed publications and programs and lectures on cancer) that are responsible for their views on cancer prevention and control and to examine, retrieve, these sources to determine if they are culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate for the African American senior population in the District of Columbia, to understand their content; 2) using qualitative data analysis to analyze transcripts of taped focus group sessions and to use the themes emerging to suggest or design appropriate literature and a series of featured activities on cancer prevention and control that would be the most effective means of promoting cancer prevention and control behavior in the African American population of the District of Columbia; and 3)implementing four appropriate featured activities at each focus group site as an intervention and at each featured activity select at least 30 participants to follow for a period of one year. Each individual agreed to a) complete an advise consent form, a pre-survey and post-survey; b) make changes in their diets; c) follow an exercise routine, and alter specific health behaviors; and d) attend support groups for one year following the featured activity. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals who worked on the project include: Dr. Carolyn Cousin, Principal Investigator; Ms. Lorthea Young, Program Coordinator; Dr. Shelia Harmon-Martin, Assistant Program Coordinator; and Dorrelyn Patacsil, graduate student. Undergraduate students participating on this projects are as follows: Aisha Parker, Tanya Logan, Memar Ayalew, Stephenna Knight, Milfred Stannifer, Lydia Yimer, Heran Kalyer, and Harshini R. Dinesdurage Current Perceptions on Cancer Prevention and Control Part I. Aisha Parker, Freddie Dixon and Carolyn Cousin. 64th Joint Meeting of BKX/NIS, Greensboro, NC, March 15, 2007 First Place Science Education (oral), Current Perceptions on Cancer Prevention and Control: Part II. Memar Ayalew, Stephenna Knight, Freddie Dixon, and Carolyn Cousin. HBCU- Up Meeting, Washington, D.C. 2007 Third Place Poster Current Perceptions in Cancer, Part III, Harshini R. Dinesdurage, Milfred Stantifer , Freddie Dixon and Carolyn Cousin, 65th Joint NIS/BXK Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas, 2008 Second Place- Science Education (oral) Current Perceptions in Cancer and Overview of the Three Phases: Harshini R. Dinesdurage and Carolyn Cousin. Annual Undergraduate Research Seminar at the University of the District of Columbia First Place- Oral Presentation TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audience was seniors (55 and older who live in the D.C. Metropolitan Area). Participants ages ranged from 61 -91 years of age, majority female with education ranging from high school to post college. Forty-two (42) of the participants had a change in action. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
This is an pilot study to determine the current perceptions that African American seniors have on cancer, in order to implement cancer interventions and reduce the disproportionate rate of cancer among the African American populations of the District of Columbia. The primary group targeted for data collection was residents of the District of Columbia Metropolitan Area, 55 years or older. After obtaining IRB approval, four focus groups were conducted during which preliminary data sheets were completed followed by participation in a question and answer session. After analysis of the data from the focus groups, a major emerging theme found was that many people were unaware of how to engage in a cancer prevention life style. They cited the need for constant reminders to participate in cancer prevention routines and to remain abreast of the importance of annual screening dates. Additionally, they required assistance in finding appropriate and affordable screening sites. Action was taken to implement their suggestions. A buddy-system was put in place to serve as a motivational tool. Calendars were constructed with essential data on cancer. These calendars contained reminders for cancer screenings and procedures for applying cancer prevention lifestyle practices. It was suggested that appropriate "show-and-tell" featured activities occur at each focus group-site after which individuals would be asked to agree to participate in an intervention for a period of 1 year. This intervention was implemented in the manner suggested by the focus groups. During this intervention period, the participants made changes in their diet, followed exercise routines, and altered specific negative-health behaviors. The intervention ended the last day in April which was one year-end period after the beginning of the intervention. During this one year period, the four different groups met monthly for 6 months of support-group meetings. This meeting was conducted by the program coordinator, the assistant program coordinator and a graduate student. At these meetings, the participants learned how to engage in a healthy lifestyle. Participants were given information on proper nutrition and exercise. Information on screening, clinical trials and other cancer information were given to the participants all of whom had buddies. After six months, the support-group meetings ended and only the buddy -system and a telephone call to the program coordinators for advice were provided to the participants. Only 2 individuals left the project during the last year and they were at one site, Greenleaf Senior Citizens Home in Southwest Washington , D.C. Their loss from the project curtailed the data coming from that site which, already only had three individuals.
Publications
- Cousin, C, Young, L. , Fenwick, K Parker, I, and Logan, T . Activities More Likely to Change Poor Cancer Prevention and Control Behavior among African Americans in the District of Columbia.(manuscript to be submitted to the Journal of Health Education, 2008
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The results of this research project "Current Perceptions Concerning Cancer among seniors (55 and older) in the African American Communities in the District of Columbia" have been reported at two different symposia. In March 2006, a presentation was made at the National Institute of Science in Greensboro, N.C. The presentation was awarded first place in Science Education at this meeting. The second phase of this project was presented in Washington, DC at the HBCU-Ups Meeting sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The presentation "Current Perceptions on Cancer Prevention and Control, Part II" was given by Memar Ayalew. This presentation received a third place Award in Biology. Additionally, the research was presented at the Spring Research Seminar in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). Students in the Undergraduate Research Course present their research finding at the end of the fall and spring
semesters. Also, data from this project was presented at two different forums (the Oversight Committee and the Program Steering Committee) of the UDC/Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center (LCCC). Products: Two calendars have been generated from one of the emerging themes (Most impressive literatures were items that were viewed at intervals over a long period of time (e.g. a calendar, a shower card) from the focus groups (a part of objective I of the grant proposal). Calendars were done for 2007and 2008. Dissemination - The calendars mentioned above were disseminated to individuals in the cancer intervention program at John Wesley A & M Church, Plymouth United Church of Christ, Greenleaf Senior Citizen Home, and Capper Senior Home; faculty in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, individuals attending the Cancer Clinic at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Members of the UDC/LCCC Partnership.
PARTICIPANTS: Individuals who worked on the project - Dr. Carolyn Cousin, PI; Ms. Lorthea Young, Program Coordinator; Dr. Shelia Harmon-Martin, Assistant Program Coordinator; and Dorrelyn Patacsil, graduate student. Undergraduate students participating on this projects are as follows: Aisha Parker, Tanya Logan, Memar Ayalew, Stephenna Knight, Milfred Stannifer, and Lydia Yimer Partner Organizations, Collaborators, and Contacts - The UDC/LCCC Cancer Partnership and the Community Consumer Committee of the Partnership
TARGET AUDIENCES: Target Audiences - seniors (55 and older who live in the D.C. Metropolitan Area)
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No changes have been made from the initial format.
Impacts
This is the second & third phases of an ongoing study to determine the current perceptions that African American seniors have on cancer, in order to implement cancer interventions and reduce the disproportionate rate of cancer among this population. The primary group targeted for data collection was residents of the District of Columbia Metropolitan Area, 55 years or older. After obtaining IRB approval, four focus groups were conducted during which preliminary data sheets were completed followed by participation in a question and answer session. During Phases I, after analysis of the results from the focus groups, a major emerging theme found was that many people were unaware of how to engage in a cancer prevention life style. They cited the need for constant reminders to participate in cancer prevention routines and to remain abreast of the importance of annual screening dates. Additionally, they required assistance in finding appropriate and affordable screening
sites. Action was taken to implement their suggestions. A buddy-system was put in place to serve as a motivational tool. Calendars were constructed with essential data on cancer. These calendars contained reminders for cancer screenings and procedures for applying cancer prevention lifestyle practices. It was suggested that appropriate "show-and-tell" featured activities occurring at each focus group-site after which at least 30 individuals would agree to participate in an intervention for a period of 1 year. During this period, they would make changes in their diet, follow an exercise routine, and alter specific negative-health behaviors. The results of the six-month questionnaires: eighty percent of the participants followed closely the instruction given at the six support group meetings; individuals who actually saw his/her buddy rather than talked on the telephone adhered more closely to the health prevention and control methods cited during the support groups; individuals who
attended every support session stayed on course better than those who did not; the participants were more successful in improving their eating habits than their exercise routine program; all of the individuals who were smoking at the beginning of the intervention have either stopped or have reduced their smoking; and the major change that appears to be consistent among the participants in the intervention was that participants read labels more closely and understood their meaning than prior to the intervention.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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