ASPO Abstracts
Selecting and Training Community Health Educators to Address Prostate Cancer Disparities
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication, Cancer Health Disparities
Conference Year: 2018
Abstract Body:
Purpose: In response to disproportionately high rates of prostate cancer (PCa) morbidity and mortality among African American males, we designed a nested, community-based, cluster randomized controlled trial to test the impact of community health educators (CHEs) delivering PCa risk and screening messages directly to men in their community. Here, we describe the process for selecting and training the CHEs to be members of the research team. Methods: Because no agreed-upon training protocol for CHEs exists, we adapted other CHE training protocols to meet our needs. CHEs were selected through community contacts and had demonstrated commitment to their neighborhoods. Previous experience in the health care field was not required. The protocol included 10 sessions, taught over 5 months. Topics included the purpose and function of the prostate, risk factors for PCa, pros and cons of screening, and the benefits of an informed decision about screening. We also trained CHEs on human subjects’ protection, proper data collection procedures, and group facilitation techniques. CHEs evaluated the quality of the training with a survey. Results: CHEs had backgrounds in community organizing and behavioral health, as well as current or previous careers as clergy, postmen, and transit agency workers. Eight of the 10 CHEs completed the training and 6 of the 8 CHEs attended all 10 sessions. At the end of the training, all 8 men felt prepared to be a CHE and that the training was comprehensive and culturally sensitive to the needs of their community. Discussion: We designed, implemented, and evaluated a training protocol for CHEs that can be adapted or used by other researchers to implement a similar type of community-based intervention. The content of the training could possibly be modified to address disparities in other cancer types. CHEs need not have a background in health care to be trained as a CHE; other skill sets and commitment to the community are equally important.
Keywords: community health educators; prostate cancer