 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Nancy L. Atkinson, PhD, Public Health Informatics Research Laboratory, University of Maryland, Department of Public and Community Health, Suite 2387 Valley Drive, College Park, MD 20742, 301-405-2522, na31@umail.umd.edu and Kipling Gallion, MA, Dept. of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 8207 Callaghan Rd., Suite 110, San Antonio, TX 78230.
An internet-based, 3 round study involving 142 stakeholders in Hispanic genetics issues was drawn from a national sample of researchers, community leaders and federal representatives. An iterative Delphi process was used as a preliminary assessment tool preceding a national conference on Latinos and Genetics conducted in June 2003. The findings of the Delphi study reflected perceptions of the importance of barriers experienced by Latinos regarding genetics education, research and health services. The surveys were deployed on a research-oriented website with links to Delphi information and previous studies. A hyperlink delivered through email accessed the surveys on-line. Although fax and land-mail were options for interaction over 95% of respondents chose to complete the surveys over the Internet. Response rates for the 3 rounds were 76%, 53% and 52%. Examples of results include respondents rating the importance of 37 barriers to public education and outreach on genetics for Latinos, most relating to social barriers facing low-income populations e.g., language, access, and basic needs. Health professions serving Latino communities were considered misinformed, under-prepared or too culturally incompetent to assist health system Latino clients. When queried about the perceived changeability of barriers, over 50% identified lack of outreach, lack of education materials, lack of information on benefits, and lack of access to information about genetics among health care professionals who serve Latinos as more changeable. The presentation will look at specific results across the areas of genetics education and outreach, participation in genetics research, access to genetics health care services, and capacity to conduct genetics research. It will also examine responses by the different categories of respondents (i.e., researchers, community leaders and federal officers involved genetic research, training and education). Implications to address these barriers plus recommendations to policy makers will be offered.
Learning Objectives:
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.