The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #45812

Gerardine Wurzburg, MA¹, Ali B. DeGerome, MA¹, H. Grady Watts, MA¹, Dick R Lui, MPH¹, Catherine Harbour, MPH¹, Gretchen Hermes, MA, PhD (ABD)², Tom de Boor³, Kimberly L Jeffries, PhD⁴, and Suzanne M. Randolph, PhD⁵. (1) State of the Art, Inc., 4455 Connecticut Ave. NW Ste. B-200, Washington, DC 20008, (2) Institute for Mind and Biology, University of Chicago, 940 E. 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, (3) Cotyledon Productions, 2136 W. Thomas Street, Chicago, IL 60622, (4) MayaTech Corp., 8737 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (5) Randolph Associates, 9816 Pebble Weigh Ct., Burke, VA 22015

With funding from NINR, State of the Art has developed an educational resource that includes two documentary videos, a booklet, and a website. The materials outline the health risks associated with perimenopause and suggest behaviors that women can adopt to address those risks. The videos include documentary profiles of women in perimenopause and expert commentaries to model preventive behaviors and present methods for change. One video targets the general audience of women while the other focuses on African-American women. The website uses online communities and risk assessments to educate about and provide support for perimenopause, menopause, and preventative behaviors. Issues discussed in the materials include CVD, osteoporosis, cancer, HRT, diabetes, incontinence, and mental health. The goal of "Now Is Our Time" is to motivate women in perimenopause to engage in preventative behaviors by influencing their knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about those behaviors.

The presenter will discuss the methods used to develop and evaluate the materials, including key informant interviews with women and health care professionals, expert review, focus group testing, and quantitative impact evaluation. Results from the evaluation will be presented and portions of the videos and website will be shown. The uses of the media will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• • Describe the procedure for developing, producing, and evaluating a documentary video, booklet, and website to motivate women in perimenopause to engage in preventative behaviors.
  • Develop appropriate goals and outcomes for health communication message for women in perimenopause.
  • Identify the appropriate uses of the media discussed.

Keywords: Health Communications, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: State of the Art, Inc.
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment, Director of Research