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African-American caregivers' breast health behavior
Inoue, M., Pickard, J. G., Welch-Saleeby, P., Johnson, S. This study utilizes a stress and coping framework which includes cognitive appraisal, personal and environmental resources, coping and stress to examine factors related to African-American caregivers’ breast cancer screenings, including mammograms, clinical examinations and self-examinations. Using data from the Black Rural and Urban Caregivers Mental Health and Functioning Study, we performed separate logistic regressions for each type of breast cancer screening. Results reveal that having a regular doctor checkup (coping), care recipients having a cancer diagnosis (cognitive appraisal, and living in urban areas (environment resources) are associated with receiving a mammogram. Having greater income, having at least a high school degree (both personal resources) and having a regular doctor checkup (coping) are associated with receiving a clinical examination. Increased caregiver strain (stress), being 40 years old or older, social support (coping) and living in rural areas are associated with performing a self-examination. Targeting African-American caregivers, particularly in rural areas, for increased education on the importance of receiving breast cancer screenings is crucial to addressing health disparities. Making resources available, encouraging caregivers to get a clinical examination and a mammogram and directing public education toward caregivers are important points of intervention.
Stages of mammography adoption in Asian American women
Wu, T.-Y., Hsieh, H. F., West, B. T. Asian American women have the lowest mammography screening rate and are often diagnosed at later stages of breast cancer compared with other ethnic groups. This study applied the Transtheoretical Model and examined the relationships between stages of mammography adoption and mammography-related beliefs while controlling for socio-demographic factors. The study consisted of a convenience sample of 315 participants from four populous Asian ethnic groups in Michigan (109 Asian Indians, 51 Chinese, 36 Koreans and 119 Filipinos). In this relatively small sample, Koreans appeared to be more likely to be at the pre-contemplation stage and less likely to be at the maintenance stage. Perceived barriers and decisional balance scores differed by stage, with pre-contemplators reporting highest barriers and lowest scores in decisional balance. In terms of specific barrier items, pre-contemplators also displayed significantly greater agreement for most of the barrier items. Participants in the action stage have less favorable decisional balance than those in two earlier stages (i.e. contemplation and relapse). Common barriers for this sample of Asian participants included the items related to access and modesty issues. Overall, the study supports the notion that assessing differences in mammography-related beliefs by stage of screening behavior may facilitate the development of stage-matched interventions for Asian ethnic groups.
A qualitative exploration of the community partner experience in a faith-based breast cancer educational intervention
Rodriguez, E. M., Bowie, J. V., Frattaroli, S., Gielen, A. Although community partner engagement is a key component in faith-based health promotion/disease prevention intervention research, the perspective of community partners on their experiences in the intervention process has been infrequently investigated. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 African-American community partners [i.e. four pastors and eight lay health co-ordinators (LHCs)] from eight churches in greater Baltimore, MD, USA, that engaged in a breast cancer educational intervention that followed a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach. Audiotaped interviews were transcribed, coded and content analysis was used to identify themes across the codes. Findings show that pastors support a holistic approach to health and that LHCs act as a link between the pastors, participants and academic researchers. In addition, pastors and LHCs emphasized that the religious and/or spiritual program elements should not overpower the importance of reaching participants with critical health information regardless of their religious or spiritual beliefs. Study findings suggest that faith-based educational intervention efforts that follow a CBPR approach are important in promoting cancer awareness in the African-American community. Including community partner assessment can further elucidate critical intervention impacts and helps to address health disparities in underserved communities.

Public Health News Headlines from Johns Hopkins

Consumer Electronics Can Help Improve Patient Health
paffairs@jhsph.edu (Office of Communications) Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0500
Electronic tools and technology applications for consumers can help improve health care processes, such as adherence to medication and clinical outcomes like smoking cessation, according to a report by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The analysis of consumer health informatics, conducted by the Bloomberg School's Evidence-based Practice Center for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), was based on an examination of 146 published research studies of patient-focused electronic tools. It is among the first to explore the potential value of consumer health informatics.
Researchers Identify Workings of L-Form Bacteria
paffairs@jhsph.edu (Office of Communications) Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:30:00 -0500
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have for the first time identified the genetic mechanisms involved in the formation and survival of L-form bacteria. Their findings are described in a study published October 6 in the journal PLoS ONE.
Center for a Livable Future Names Predoctoral Fellows for 2009-2010
paffairs@jhsph.edu (Office of Communications) Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0500
(CLF) has awarded predoctoral fellowships to 16 students for the 2009-2010 academic year in its Farming for the Future and Eating for the Future programs.

 

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