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Reducing health disparities: Educating individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds to advocate for receiving health promotion and disease prevention services

Katherine Froehlich-Grobe, PhD and Ximena Ilabaca-Somoza, MD, MPH. Occupational Therapy Education Department, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Mailstop 2003, Kansas City, KS 66160, (913)588-7195, kgrobe@kumc.edu

Evidence suggests that those with disabilities have poorer health than those without disabilities and for individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds, the health disparities may be even larger. In an attempt to reduce disparities in health between minorities with disabilities and the general population, researchers conducted a small pilot study to (1) educate minority individuals with disabilities about issues affecting their health and to (2) teach them to advocate for receipt of health promotion and disease prevention services with their health provider. Using a PAR approach, a consumer-friendly resource booklet was developed to provide individuals with information about the importance of engaging in positive health behaviors (e.g., physical activity and nutrition), in receiving regular screening exams for chronic health conditions and cancers (e.g., high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, breast and prostate cancer), and secondary conditions. The presentation will describe the process used in creating the resource booklet and present results from the pilot study.

Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Advocacy

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.

DisAbility Resource Fair--Poster I

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA