Penelope Moore

Community-Centered Family Health History: A Customized Approach to Increased Health Communication and Awareness

Background: There has been little study of whether family health history (FHH) tools used by individuals, families, and communities inspire measurable changes in communication and behavior. Objectives: The Community-Centered Family Health History (CCFHH) project was a collaborative endeavor among national and community-based organizations with an interest in genetics education and health. Using community- based participatory research principles as a foundation, CCFHH examined whether the Does It Run In the Family? toolkit, a set of two customizable booklets on health and genetics, encourages discussion and collection of FHH information across diverse communities. Methods: Five communities across the country measured the utility of customized versions of the Does It Run In the Family? toolkit. Each community partner recruited families, consisting of two or more blood relatives, to use the toolkit for 3 months, discuss it among their family members, and consider the implications of the health information. Pre- and postintervention surveys measured family communication about family history and disease risk and the use of FHH information in health care provider interactions. Results: After aggregate, cross-community analysis of individual responses, from pre- to post-toolkit use family members showed increases in communication about family history of disease risk (p < .05) and in awareness about FHH (p < .05). Conclusion: These findings indicate that diverse communities are receptive to FHH intervention, and tailored health educational materials can lead to increased conversations and awareness about health issues across communities.

Intraracial Dynamics of Black Professors’ and Black Students’ Communication in Traditionally White Colleges and Universities

While the literature suggests that Black students are more successful in traditionally White colleges and universities when they see professors with whom they can identify, it has been relatively silent about aspects of the relationship between Black professors and Black students that may be perceived as negative. The authors explored the strengths and limitations of this important relationship from the perspectives of Black faculty in six institutions of higher education in New York City and Westchester County, New York. Focus group findings highlighted the unique role of Black faculty members as mentors based on the professors’ subjective perceptions, thoughts, and feelings about mentoring Black students. Equally important, the findings pointed out the need for further research that explores the efficacy of the role of Black professors as mentors from Black students’ perspectives, as well as the implications of such an investigation on Black faculty member and student retention rates.

Iona College Community Centered Family Health History Project: Lessons Learned from Student Focus Groups

The Community Centered Family Health History project was initiated to create accessible family health history tools produced by and for the community. The project goal was to promote increased community engagement in health education by encouraging conversations among family members that would translate knowledge of family health history into healthy lifestyle choices. As one of seven community partners, Iona College participated in customizing and beta-testing the Does It Run in the Family? toolkit. Twenty-nine college students were engaged to recruit three relatives related by blood to provide feedback on the utility of the toolkit. The toolkit consists of two booklets—“A Guide to Family Health History” and “A Guide to Understanding Genetics and Health”—explaining the importance of knowing and talking about health within the family as well as basics about how conditions are passed down through generations. Twenty-two of the twenty-nine students participated in focus groups to discuss their reactions to participation in the project. Students in the focus group reported that the study participants—students and their family members—found the toolkit to be user friendly and the experience a valuable one that prompted many to take positive steps toward good health.

AIDS Bereavement Supports in an African American Church: A Model for Facilitator Training

There has been very little (if any) attention given to the training needs of lay leaders to develop and facilitate AIDS bereavement support groups in an African American church. This article describes a model of facilitator training based on the principles of adult education and emphasizes experiental and didactic components of a six-session training program. Six participants (lay leaders) were designated for training by the senior pastor of the congregation. Feedback from participants suggests that this model of facilitator training is culturally sensitive and relevant to meeting the needs of AIDS grievers.

INTRA-RACIAL DYNAMICS OF BLACK FACULTY AND BLACK STUDENTS: BARRIERS TO SUCCESS IN THE ACADEMY IN PREDOMINANTLY WHITE INSTITUTIONS

Cancer in general in Albania is an increasing problem and cervical cancer is the third most common gynecologic cancer among all women. Refer to European Code Against cancer an important action for women to help to prevent cervical cancer is to take part in organised cancer screening programmes. The study aims to identify in women health beliefs about cervical cancer. This is a transversal and analytical study with a sample of 210 healthy women from Vlora city with different socio-economic and educational levels. A selfadministered questionnaire that assesses the health beliefs components about cervical cancer was the data collection instrument. The results highlighted low risk perception relative to cervical cancer. Most of women believe that cervical cancer as dangerous as all the other cancers and uncertainties about the chances to recover from it exist among them. Misunderstandings and high sensitivity relate to cervical screening. Relationship between perceived benefits, emotional, economic barriers and Pap test uptake was found. Large numbers of women never screened. The results indicated that to improve the womens attitudes to health, to encourage adherence to cervical screening and to avoid misconceptions due to lack of information conversations with health operators and the designing of effective prevention strategies based on health beliefs are fundamental.