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An urban intergenerational program for cancer control education
1School of Social Work, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6214, USA.
Summary
This study developed a community cancer education program to address health disparities in African Americans. The program trained community members as health educators, reaching hundreds of adults and children with vital cancer information.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Community Health Education
- Cancer Disparities
Background:
- Significant disparities in cancer morbidity and mortality exist between African Americans and whites.
- An urban university and its community collaborated to address these disparities.
- The initiative focused on transferring cancer prevention, detection, and treatment knowledge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and implement a community-based cancer education program.
- To bridge the knowledge gap between academic medical centers and community residents.
- To empower the community with state-of-the-art cancer information.
Main Methods:
- An intergenerational, multilevel intervention approach was employed.
- Community health beliefs were assessed.
- Community residents were trained as intergenerational health educators.
- Behavioral change was promoted within the target population.
Main Results:
- Ten community residents were successfully trained as cancer educators.
- Over two years, 775 adults participated in cancer education programs.
- A school-based intervention reached 264 seventh-grade students.
Conclusions:
- The study identified key implications for designing and implementing community-based cancer education programs.
- Findings are particularly relevant for African American communities facing cancer disparities.
- The program demonstrated a model for effective community-academic partnerships in health education.