Date Completed: 2/15/08
Faculty Name: Cheryl L. Holt, Ph.D.
UAB Department: Preventive Medicine
UAB School: School of Medicine
Campus Address: MT 641
Telephone: 934-2816
Email Address: cholt@dopm.uab.edu
Fax: 934-7959
Research Program Area: Cancer Control and Population Science
Project Title: Church-Based Colorectal Cancer Education Project
Project Status: Already up-and-running
Proposed Start Date: May 19
Proposed End Date: August 15
Number of Weeks of Internship: 12
Number of Interns: 1
Other faculty, staff, or graduate students who may help supervise intern: Chastity Roberts, Ph.D., M.P.H.; Penny Southward, M.P.P.M
Expected Number of Work Hours Per Week: Negotiable
Expected Work Schedule for Intern: Flexible, intern can largely set his or her own schedule
Category of Research: Community-Based or Field Research
Cancer Research: Colon and Rectum
Project Description: Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer as well as cancer deaths in the U.S. behind prostate/breast, and lung cancer. African Americans have higher cancer rates as well as cancer death rates than all other racial/ethnic groups and this racial gap holds true for both men and women. One reason for this pattern may be the lower rates of screening (testing) among African Americans as compared to Whites.
Church and religion are central to many people's lives, and spirituality can be important in the way we think about our health. The aims of this project are to develop, pilot test, conduct, and determine effectiveness of a church-based educational program to increase colorectal cancer screening among church-attending African American women and men 50 years of age and older in Birmingham.
In this project, we spent the first year working with the community to create the church-based educational program. We worked with an Advisory Panel to get ideas about what should go into this program. We had an opportunity to see what members of the community thought about the program, using focus groups and one-on-one interviews. In the final phase of the intervention, we plan to see if the program is effective in raising awareness and knowledge about colorectal cancer, and screening rates for colorectal cancer.
We will conduct the program by working with 16 African American churches in Birmingham. Each church will hold 2 educational group presentations to discuss colorectal cancer early detection. The presentations will be led by Community Health Advisors. Community Health Advisors are people from the church who are "natural leaders" and trusted in their community. They will get training from project staff and become Community Health Advisors. The Community Health Advisors will also call the members of their church to talk with them about colorectal cancer screening, and help them with any issues the person might be having that get in the way of them getting checked. Because we have to see if and how the program is working, we will have to give out surveys to the church members when they start the program, at the group presentations, and after the end of the program.
This 4-year project is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Intern's Anticipated Duties:
Duty 1: Work with the investigative team in follow-up data collection and analysis
Duty 2: Work with the investigative team in review of the literature and manuscript development
Duty 3: Work with the investigative team in coordinating participant retention activities
Preceptor will provide intern with access to the following: office or desk space; computer and printer; equipment needed to complete project; supplies needed to complete project
Likelihood of authoring publications: Very Likely
Background, education, experience, or expertise preferred: Cancer Rates, Trends, and Statistics; Scientific Writing Skills; Literature Review Skills; Manuscript Preparation; Minorities and Health; Basic Knowledge of Statistics and Data Management; Advanced Knowledge of Statistics and Data Management
This faculty member has been a CaRES Preceptor for two summers.
Intern 1: open