The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #67347

Rita J. Lourie, MSN, MPH, RN¹, Nancy Z Henkin, PhD², Cathy Curley, MSN, RN¹, Suzanne Henderson, MA³, and Marilyn Wood, MA². (1) Department of Nursing, Temple University, 3307 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, 215-707-4872, rlourie@temple.edu, (2) Center for Intergenerational Learning, Temple University, 206 University Service Building, 1601 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19122, (3) African American Studies, Temple University, 580 Meeting House Rd (901-00), Ambler, PA 19002

This paper will describe a model to engage high school students, college students and influential community leaders in a process to creative a successful community awareness campaign for a vulnerable population.

Healthy People 2010 Objectives propose to reduce cigarette smoking to at least 12% in persons 18 years and older. Presently, more than one out of every five persons (21%) in Southeastern Pennsylvania smoke, half of whom will die prematurely from cancer, heart disease, and chronic lung diseases. The habit of smoking has been linked to lower education and low income populations. According to the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation (2002), men (23%) and black adults (24%) are more likely to smoke than women (21%) and white adults (21%).

Thirty-eight Temple University senior nursing students, under the supervision of four clinical faculty, partnered with students from the Wm. Penn Health Academy. The orientation included improv interactive theater with the Full Circle Theater Group. Armed with cameras, these student teams assessed selected neighborhoods and surveyed residents and key informants to determine the extent of tobacco advertising, the effectiveness of the message,and the prevalence of second hand smoke. Both quantitative and qualitative assessment data will be presented. The students then crafted creative multimedia counter-marketing messages targeted to the North Philadelphia community. The Community Awareness Campaign, developed from the students'assessment, will be outlined.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the presentation the participant will:
• Discuss the creative methods used to create a community "buy-in".
• Analyze results of the community assessment
• Critique community awareness techniques

Keywords: Environmental Health, Community Involvement

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.