The proposed study is a three-phase project to develop, implement, and evaluate a community-based intervention to increase the proportion of Hispanic women in Colorado who are in compliance with screening guidelines for BC and CC. A strength of this project is the involvement of a multidisciplinary leadership team, consisting of an Hispanic sociologist, research psychologist, public health expert and a clinician-educator. This team is strengthened by collaboration with the ACS and both an Hispanic Community Advisory Committee and a Scientific Advisory Committee. Phase One will determine pre-intervention compliance rates as well as identify factors that promote or determine pre-intervention compliance rates as well as identify factors that promote or act as barriers to screening compliance among Hispanic women. These data will guide development and implementation of community-based intervention activities (Phase Two) to promote acceptance of screening and reduce information, attitude/motivation, socio- cultural, and system barriers to screening. Phase Three will evaluate changes in the proportion of the age-eligible, Hispanic population in compliance with the screening guidelines due to exposure to these intervention activities. This research will be implemented as a matched pair design involving three pairs of Colorado communities with development of intervention activities guided by the Diffusion of Innovations (DI) cross-cultural model of behavior change. Particular emphasis will be placed on mobilization of members of the health care community to act as effective sources and channels through which intervention messages will be delivered and to respond to the increased demand for screening. Longitudinal cohorts of 1500 Hispanic women in six Colorado communities (N=9,000) will be established and followed for the duration of the project to monitor changes in screening compliance rates. The primary outcome measure will be the proportion of women in each age cohort in compliance with recommended screening protocols for SM, CBE, and Pap testing following exposure to the intervention. Secondary outcome measures will compare pre- and post-intervention knowledge and attitudes about BC, CC and screening exams including BSE. The evaluation plan also includes periodic process and implementation evaluation to monitor the impact and effectiveness of intervention activities as well as adherence to the Intervention Plan. The inclusion of existing members, social networks, and institutions in the design and implementation of intervention activities will increase its efficacy and permit continuation of activities following completion of the funded project.
| Bakemeier, R F; Krebs, L U; Murphy, J R et al. (1995) Attitudes of Colorado health professionals toward breast and cervical cancer screening in Hispanic women. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr :95-100 |
| Flores, E T; Mata, A G (1995) Latino male attitudes and behaviors on their spouses' and partners' cancer-screening behavior: focus group findings. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr :87-93 |
