Recorded presentation

Mary Kay Anderson, MSN, PhD¹, Carol L. Macnee, PhD², Kathleen Rayman, MSN, PhD³, Gary Kukulka, PhD⁴, Alma Vazquez², Holly Melendez, BA¹, Lynn Cutlip, BA¹, Karen R. Childress, BA, MA², and Jeanie Evans Walker, BA⁵. (1) Family & Community Nursing, East Tennessee State University, PO Box 70 676, ETSU, Johnson City, TN 37614-0676, 423-439-4051, anderson@etsu.edu, (2) Family and Community Nursing, East Tennessee State University, P.O. Box 70676, Johnson City, TN 37614-0676, (3) Professional Roles, Mental Health Nursing, East Tennessee State University, PO Box 70 658, Johnson City, TN 37614, (4) Dept of Family Medicine, East Tennessee State University, PO Box 70 621, Johnson City, TN 37614, (5) Office of Practice & Research, East Tennessee State University, PO Box 70 403, Johnson City, TN 37614

Targets of community interventions for disease prevention tend to be persons with diseases and the individual behaviors that increase risk of preventable disease and/or manageable morbidity. Success of community interventions is generally measured by reductions in morbidity and mortality. While not entirely rejecting traditional aggregate approaches to community health, another paradigm has emerged that focuses on the community as the client and acknowledges the fact that social, political, and economic conditions beyond individual control contribute to health. Rather than measuring community health status by traditional aggregate measures alone, researchers engage in active participation with communities to tackle community health concerns identified by the community itself. The purpose of this report is to present the process and results of recent research efforts to examine one community approach to health in Appalachia. The Hispanic community has formed a partnership with university researchers to explore an alternate approach to disease prevention. Working together, with funding from the CDC Community-Based Participatory Prevention Research efforts, the research team is working to understand and design effective diabetes prevention programs. The goals are increased community capacity for health and reduction in the burden of diabetes for the Hispanic community. In the course of the overall research effort, an extensive house to house survey was undertaken by trained community representatives to measure community capacity using the construct of community competence. Nearly 450 Hispanic community members participated in the survey. The results were presented back to the community. Survey process and results are discussed in this report.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will identify critical aspects of action research for community health improvement.
• Participants will be able to contrast traditional health status measurement approaches with a community-based approach.
• Participants will be able to describe one Hispanic community survey designed to measure community capacity.

Keywords: Hispanic, Community Health Assessment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: East Tennessee State University Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employed by East Tennessee State University. Working with funds granted by the CDC

Recorded presentation