3107.0: Monday, October 22, 2001 - 2:50 PM

Abstract #25592

Community intervention retention strategy (CRIS)

Mona N. Fouad, MD, MPH1, Edward Partridge, MD2, Rhoda Johnson, PhD3, Roma Williams4, Christine Nagy, PhD5, Sharina Person, PhD4, Trinita Hall Ashford, MPH6, Michele Shipp, MD, MPH, DrPH4, and Theresa Wynn, PhD4. (1) Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1717 11th Ave South, Medical Towers Building #736, Birmingham, AL 35294, 205-934-4307, mfouad@dopm.uab.edu, (2) Department of Medicine-Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 619 South 19th Street, Birmingham, AL 35294, (3) Department of Women's Studies, University of Alabama, P.O. Box 870272, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, (4) University of Alabama at Birmingham, (5) Department of Health Science, University of Alabama, P.O. Box 870311, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, (6) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35394-0021

The purpose of CRIS is to evaluate the efficacy of a community-based intervention strategy to enhance minority and low-income women compliance in cancer research. The intervention is built on the CHAN and LHAs models with the purpose of training community volunteers. METHODS: First, we evaluated the communities' attitudes, health beliefs and knowledge towards clinical research. We then designed an LHA-supported intervention to enhance women compliance in clinical research. The targeted population were women participating in the Randomized Trial on The Clinical Management of ASCUS and LSIL of the Uterine Cervix-Birmingham Clinical Center (ALTS). Following a formative evaluation phase in which focus groups were conducted, two matched communities in Jefferson County, Alabama were identified, and then randomly assigned to either intervention or control group. Community volunteers in the intervention community were identified and trained as LHAs to implement a peer support intervention with ALTS Trial participants who reside in the intervention community. ALTS trial participants who reside in the control community did not receive the LHA supported intervention. Results: Forty community volunteers were recruited to serve as LHAs. Thirty completed the LHA training. A total of 632 ALTS participants agreed to participate in this project (359 intervention and 273 control). Compliance rate with clinic visits was significantly higher in ALTS participants assigned to the intervention group compared to those in the control group (78% vs. 64% with p-value < 0.0001). Results from this project indicate that community health workers can be effective in enhancing women's compliance with their clinic re-turn visits.

Learning Objectives: 1- Assess the role of Lay Health Advisors (LHAs) in clinical research. 2- Assess the impact of peer support on compliance with medical regiments. 3- Articulate ways of how LHAs to the health of other women 4- Gain information about sustaining an LHA network.

Keywords: Community Health Advisor, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA