Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114831

Billy Philips, PhD¹, Edilma Guevara, DrPH², Lilian Alvarez², Kellie Buchanan, PhD³, and James S. Goodwin, MD⁴. (1) Center for Population Health and Health Disparities, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555-1153, 409-772-9132, bphilips@utmb.edu, (2) Preventive Medicine & Community Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555-1153, (3) Coastal AHEC, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555-1153, (4) Sealy Center on Aging, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0460

Commuting distance from breast imaging centers has been established to be a factor in the underutilization of mammography. African American and Hispanic women living in a rural Texas county that is an exemplar of other such rural counties are more likely to die from cancer due to late cancer detection. The Geographic Information System (GIS) software was used to map the residence of the cancer cases and the cancer facilities used by women living in the selected county. This presentation will demonstrate the link between stage at diagnosis and distance to mammography facilities and illustrate how this information informs community-based participatory research projects (CBPR) that seek to discover the salient factors for this cancer health disparity. The Community Health Improvement Process (CHIP) model is the organizing paradigm for studies that focus on logistical, structural, socio-economic, cultural, and decision-making processes that are factors within these communities with the greatest disparities. The discussion will address some of the dynamic aspects of the CBPR process, the distinct roles of researchers and members of a local cancer awareness network (CAN), the vital elements necessary in collaborative efforts including the development of action plans and interventions, and the sentinel role of nationally funded centers. This project has been conducted as part of the NCI grant # P50CA105631.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the presentation, the participant will be able to (
• demonstrate how multiple levels of analysis and interdisciplinary perspectives are used to address breast cancer health disparities through community-based participatory research.

Keywords: Cancer Screening, Community-Based Partnership

Related Web page: www.catchum.utmb.edu/CPHHD/index.htm

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.

Recorded presentation