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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Kathleen M. Russell, DNS, RN¹, Electra D. Paskett, PhD², and Victoria L. Champion, DNS¹. (1) School of Nursing, Indiana University, 1111 Middle Drive, Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46205, 317-274-4079, katrusse@iupui.edu, (2) School of Public Health, The Ohio State University, 320 West 10th Avenue, A-357 Starling Loving Hall, Columbus, OH 43210-1240

Medically underserved African American women are at greatest risk for late stage breast cancer due to inconsistent use of mammography screening, resulting in decreased survival. Underutilization of mammography is often associated with health beliefs about cancer and screening and lack of access to regular healthcare. Lay health advisors (LHAs) who are trusted women from African American communities are effective in reaching high risk women and increasing access to mammography screening. To increase their effectiveness, a feasibility study was conducted to determine LHAs' ability to administer an interactive computer program tailored on health beliefs and stage of mammography screening adoption and to provide barriers counseling for increasing regular mammography screening. This paper reports the process evaluation results of the study in which 10 African American women from an urban Midwest community were trained. The study was guided by social cognitive theory, transtheoretical model, the health belief model, and cultural assessment in health model. The outcome measures included skills competency, perceived self-efficacy, health literacy, and training and performance satisfaction. Multiple methods were used to collect data, including focus groups, observation, and questionnaires. Data were analyzed with content analysis and descriptive and correlational statistics. The results of this study provided information about the challenges and successes of enhanced LHA training and may be useful for expanding existing LHA programs in addressing other types of community health issues.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the enhanced lay health advisor curriculum.
• Identify barriers and facilitators to teaching and learning.
• Discuss effects of training on self-efficacy, health literacy, skills acquisition, and satisfaction in lay health advisors.

Keywords: Breast Cancer Screening,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation