Phyllis D. Morgan

African American couples merging strengths to successfully cope with breast cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To explore the process of coping with breast cancer among African American women and their spouses. DESIGN Exploratory, qualitative study using grounded theory methods. SETTING Large metropolitan area in the mid-Atlantic United States. SAMPLE 12 African American couples (N = 24). METHODS African American women and their spouses were asked to complete a background data sheet and participate in a face-to-face semistructured interview. Qualitative data were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Themes were identified using the constant comparative method. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES The process of coping with breast cancer among African American couples. FINDINGS The basic social concern was living through and beyond a breast cancer diagnosis. The core variable was merging strengths to cope with and survive a breast cancer diagnosis. Six main categories emerged to describe how African American couples actively worked together to cope with a breast cancer diagnosis: walking together, praying together, seeking together, trusting together, adjusting together, and being together. CONCLUSIONS African American couples described the importance of combining their strengths and working together as a couple to cope with a breast cancer diagnosis. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Nurses must understand the importance of developing culturally sensitive and culturally relevant interventions to assist African American couples with effectively coping with a breast cancer diagnosis. When providing care to African American couples, nurses should incorporate the six categories of walking, praying, seeking, trusting, adjusting, and being together to help couples cope with the various phases of the breast cancer experience.

The Underrepresentation of African Americans in Online Cancer Support Groups

The Internet is increasingly important for many cancer survivors because it provides access to the latest information on cancer treatments and also allows them to receive support by participating in online cancer support groups. Unfortunately, little is known about why African-American cancer survivors are underrepresented in online cancer support groups. This article reviews the relevant literature and discusses three possible explanations for why African Americans are underrepresented in online cancer support groups: the digital divide/digital inequality, preferences for face-to-face support or culture-specific online support, and trust concerns. We conclude that a health inequity exists with regard to the utilization of information that can be obtained from online cancer support groups. However, with regard to the potential benefits of the psychosocial and emotional support aspect of online cancer support groups, a health inequity may not exist, as African Americans have other preferred avenues for obtaining needed support, and there is no evidence that this is detrimental to their health.

Culturally Targeted Educational Intervention to Increase Colorectal Health Awareness among African Americans

Background/objectives. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third cause of cancer deaths for African Americans. Objectives: 1) increase CRC knowledge, 2) decrease cancer fatalism, and 3) increase colonoscopy screening for CRC among African Americans in North Carolina. Methods. Churches and community-based organizations were randomized into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received a 90-minute culturally targeted educational program on colorectal health. Pre-test and post-test questionnaires were completed by both groups. Results. A total of 539 African American men and women 50 years of age and older participated in this study. The intervention group had a significantly greater proportion of those receiving a colonoscopy within three months after the educational session than the control group. In the intervention group, CRC knowledge significantly increased and cancer fatalism attitudes significantly decreased. Conclusions. A culturally targeted faith/community-based educational intervention can increase CRC knowledge, decrease cancer fatalism, and increase screening for CRC among African Americans.

A mixed-method exploratory study of interprofessional education in social work at historically Black colleges and universities: A faculty perspective

ABSTRACT A mixed-method approach was used to capture social work faculty experiences in integrating interprofessional education (IPE) in the social work curriculum at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Questions measured attitudes, needs, preparation, and readiness of HBCU faculty to participate in preprofessional and graduate IPE courses. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were used. The 23 participants indicated that there was strong interest and endorsement for participation in IPE as an educational tool to improve interdisciplinary team work and social care outcomes. However, faculty had limited previous involvement with IPE courses. Many partners were identified for IPE courses with almost all endorsing alcohol and substance abuse counseling, mental health counseling, public health, early childhood education, nursing, rehabilitation counseling, school of divinity, and school of psychology. The following IPE teaching methods were endorsed by almost all of the faculty: seminars, IPE common tools, case analysis, collaborative assessment, role playing, and experiential activities. Qualitative analysis of the open-ended questions yielded five themes: designing/evaluating IPE programs, embedding IPE courses in the social work curriculum, facilitating trust among faculty, removing negative IPE stereotypes, and IPE courses sustainability. The study contributes vital information about an important group of stakeholders whose participation in IPE, heretofore not mentioned in the IPE literature, needs to be integrated. We recommend that the IPE higher education community work with HBCUs to implement IPE.