The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #43360

Virginia Diane Woods, RN, MSN¹, Susanne Montgomery, MS, MPH, PhD², Stuart M. Belle, MPH³, and JJ Nortey, MBA³. (1) School of Public Health, Evaluation and Research Unit, Loma Linda University, 10970 Parkland Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350, 909-558-7194, vwoods@sph.llu.edu, (2) School of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion and Education, Loma Linda University, Nichol Hall room 1511, Loma Linda, CA 92354, (3) Health Education & Promotion, Loma Linda University, 10970 Parkland Ave, Loma Linda, CA 92350

African American men experience an increased burden of mortality and morbidity from prostate cancer. In California, the 1992-1996 average annual age-adjusted mortality rates for prostate cancer in black men was approximately 50% higher than for white men. Few studies have investigated recruitment response, participation and retention among African American men in research studies. Besides increasing physician encouragement for screening, there is a paucity of research identifying additional barriers to screening for prostate cancer in this population. Historically, African American men have been reluctant to participate in research. It's All About You is a collaborative observational study with CDC/ASPH/ATSDR, Loma Linda University, the American Cancer Society and 100 Black Men of America, Inc. The purpose of the study is to discover prostate cancer prevention behaviors among African American men ages 45-74; identify how physicians communicate with their patients about prostate cancer screening and how African American patients report hearing these messages; identify health care seeking behaviors; and follow-up patterns. Using qualitative research methods to elucidate men's thoughts on this issue, a multifaceted recruitment protocol and a culturally sensitive survey were developed based on the emerging themes generated from the respondents. This paper will provide insight into suggestions for recruitment and retention in research targeting African American men. In addition, themes around the issues of barriers, predictors, and reasons to engage in cancer screening will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Describe barriers to participation and reasons for non-participation among African American men in prostate cancer prevention.
• Discuss how to apply qualitative research methods to design culturally sensitive recruitment and retention, as well as inform effective prevention intervention.
• Identify strategies to recruit and retain African American men in prevention research.

Keywords: African American, Behavioral Research

Related Web page: www.llu.edu

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Loma Linda University Evaluation and Research Unit
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.