Faculty and graduate public health students can engage economically in applied population-based learning experiences to assess community and personal health status. This report describes multiple opportunities available to university programs in public health promotion that combine indispensable practice learning with data-base research. At Jackson State University (MS), students in graduate public health and demography courses utilized culture-sensitive survey techniques administered by them in their own residential communities. Instructors assist in supervising the application of appropriate statistical packages, sampling techniques, research design, and data analysis methods. Students organize teams and individual interviews in various community environments, ranging from family households to churches and other faith-based settings. One course groups complied information over 1500 cases and presented reports in the classroom and with numerous lead agencies concerned with improving health disparities and minority population. Several project outcomes concerned effective application of techniques and information assessment derived from medical anthropology and community development paradigms. The findings successfully revealed useful approximation of the levels of personal health in local populations, which were consistent with expectations in the literature. Of equal importance has been the student acquisition of practice-based learning to apply the textbook theories in terms of their utility for professional practice. The local communities gain essential diagnostic information on local health needs, useful in more accurately determining personal and community health status.
Learning Objectives: Application of techniques and information assessment derived from medical anthropology and community development paradigms; to examine the levels of knowledge of personal and community health in local populations; student acquisition of practice-based learning to apply the textbook theories in terms of their utility for professional practice.
Keywords: African American, Ethnic Minorities
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.