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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
3053.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - 8:48 AM

Abstract #105907

Oral cancer knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of at-risk African American men in Washington, D.C

Karina Boehm, MPH1, Mary Daum1, and Marilyn Bobbin, MS, MBA, RD, LD2. (1) Office of Communications and Health Education, National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research, Building 45, Room 4AS-25, 45 Center Drive, MSC 6400, Bethesda, MD 20892-6400, (301) 496-4261, karina.boehm@nih.gov, (2) Shattuck & Associates, Inc., P.O. Box 283, Glenelg, MD 21737

Oral cancer disproportionately affects African American men and Washington, D.C., has some of the highest oral cancer incidence and mortality rates in the U.S. However, the oral cancer-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of at-risk African American men in Washington, D.C., have never been assessed. The findings from three focus groups with African American male smokers ages 45-65 in Washington, D.C., will be discussed, including: 1) participants' perceptions of general health; 2) what they saw as the greatest health concerns facing men their age; 3) their views of cancer; 4) if and what they had heard about oral cancer; 5) what they would do in response to oral cancer symptoms and why (e.g., perceived susceptibility to oral cancer, perceived severity of oral cancer, perceived benefits of and barriers to behavior change); 6) what they thought could be done to get people to take oral cancer more seriously; and 7) what they thought the main message about oral cancer should be. Participants' reactions to the brief education session included at the end of each focus group will also be discussed, as will implications for future oral cancer education efforts for African American men in Washington, D.C.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

Keywords: African American, Cancer

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Acknowledging Culture in Health Education

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA