The purpose of this study was to develop and test the efficacy of a prostate health curriculum designed to train African American and Afro Caribbean barbers to deliver prostate cancer control messages to their customers. The curriculum... more
The purpose of this study was to develop and test the efficacy of a prostate health curriculum designed to train African American and Afro Caribbean barbers to deliver prostate cancer control messages to their customers. The curriculum was drafted from information obtained from needs assessment surveys administered to barbers and customers from various barbershops in Brooklyn, New York. Focus groups were conducted to further inform the curriculum, which was pilot tested in training sessions. The high incidence of late-stage diagnosis prostate cancer in African Americans has often been attributed to lack of screening. In surveys administered to 92 customers and 19 barbers, only 26% of customers and 42% of barbers reported having some knowledge of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening test. More than 90% of the barbers expressed a willingness to obtain prostate cancer information to specifically share with their customers, and 83% of customers expressed an interest in obtaining prostate cancer information and willingness to receive that information from their barbers. Following the pilot training, barber knowledge of prostate cancer increased significantly (p < .0001). This pilot study suggests that there is a need for intervention programs that will raise awareness and increase prostate health knowledge and behavior in communities with elevated incidence of prostate cancer. The study further suggests that barbers are willing to use their leadership skills to educate and encourage their customers to engage in informed decision making.
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ABSTRACT This report describes the experience of a program for heroin abusers which combines some features of a therapeutic community with methadone maintenance therapy. The program utilized both ex-addict counselors and mental health... more
ABSTRACT This report describes the experience of a program for heroin abusers which combines some features of a therapeutic community with methadone maintenance therapy. The program utilized both ex-addict counselors and mental health professionals in group therapy sessions. The ex-addict counselors, while a valuable asset to a drug abuse program, demonstrated definite limitations. Our experience does indicate, however, that such a program can be set up within the confines of a general medical clinic, and that methadone maintenance and psychotherpay need not be looked upon as mutually exclusive but can be used together effectively in a treatment program.
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PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to develop and test the efficacy of a prostate health curriculum designed to train African American and Afro Caribbean barbers to deliver prostate cancer control messages to their customers.... more
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to develop and test the efficacy of a prostate health curriculum designed to train African American and Afro Caribbean barbers to deliver prostate cancer control messages to their customers. PROCEDURES The curriculum was drafted from information obtained from needs assessment surveys administered to barbers and customers from various barbershops in Brooklyn, New York. Focus groups were conducted to further inform the curriculum, which was pilot tested in training sessions. FINDINGS The high incidence of late-stage diagnosis prostate cancer in African Americans has often been attributed to lack of screening. In surveys administered to 92 customers and 19 barbers, only 26% of customers and 42% of barbers reported having some knowledge of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening test. More than 90% of the barbers expressed a willingness to obtain prostate cancer information to specifically share with their customers, and 83% of customers expre...
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The purpose of this study was to develop and test the efficacy of a prostate health curriculum designed to train African American and Afro Caribbean barbers to deliver prostate cancer control messages to their customers. The curriculum... more
The purpose of this study was to develop and test the efficacy of a prostate health curriculum designed to train African American and Afro Caribbean barbers to deliver prostate cancer control messages to their customers. The curriculum was drafted from information obtained from needs assessment surveys administered to barbers and customers from various barbershops in Brooklyn, New York. Focus groups were conducted to further inform the curriculum, which was pilot tested in training sessions. The high incidence of late-stage diagnosis prostate cancer in African Americans has often been attributed to lack of screening. In surveys administered to 92 customers and 19 barbers, only 26% of customers and 42% of barbers reported having some knowledge of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening test. More than 90% of the barbers expressed a willingness to obtain prostate cancer information to specifically share with their customers, and 83% of customers expressed an interest in obtainin...
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yperlipidemia and the atherosclerotic conditions that result from it are well recog- nized as major contributors to coronary heart disease (CHD). Fortunately, several large-scale clinical trials have shown that there are effective... more
yperlipidemia and the atherosclerotic conditions that result from it are well recog- nized as major contributors to coronary heart disease (CHD). Fortunately, several large-scale clinical trials have shown that there are effective treatments that can sub- stantially lower atherogenic lipid levels and thereby reduce the risk of CHD mortal- ity and morbidity. However, duplication of these dramatic trial results can be negatively affected in "real life" clinical practice by an important issue: compliance. No medications will work if pa- tients do not take them. Unfortunately, patients who need lipid-lowering therapy are likely to need it long-term, perhaps for a lifetime. Yet, many do not adhere to the prescribed medication regi- men. This article reviews some major studies of compliance for lipid-lowering drugs. The reasons why patients do not take them as prescribed vary: poor education, lack of understanding, cost, provider indifference, and others. Achieving compliance re...
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The purpose of this study was to develop and test the efficacy of a prostate health curriculum designed to train African American and Afro Caribbean barbers to deliver prostate cancer control messages to their customers. The curriculum... more
The purpose of this study was to develop and test the efficacy of a prostate health curriculum designed to train African American and Afro Caribbean barbers to deliver prostate cancer control messages to their customers. The curriculum was drafted from information obtained from needs assessment surveys administered to barbers and customers from various barbershops in Brooklyn, New York. Focus groups were conducted to further inform the curriculum, which was pilot tested in training sessions. The high incidence of late-stage diagnosis prostate cancer in African Americans has often been attributed to lack of screening. In surveys administered to 92 customers and 19 barbers, only 26% of customers and 42% of barbers reported having some knowledge of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening test. More than 90% of the barbers expressed a willingness to obtain prostate cancer information to specifically share with their customers, and 83% of customers expressed an interest in obtaining prostate cancer information and willingness to receive that information from their barbers. Following the pilot training, barber knowledge of prostate cancer increased significantly (p < .0001). This pilot study suggests that there is a need for intervention programs that will raise awareness and increase prostate health knowledge and behavior in communities with elevated incidence of prostate cancer. The study further suggests that barbers are willing to use their leadership skills to educate and encourage their customers to engage in informed decision making.
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Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is an important manifestation of Coronary Artery Disease a leading cause of death. Rapid identification and treatment of ACS is critical in reducing morbidity and mortality. Yet studies show that many... more
Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is an important manifestation of Coronary Artery Disease a leading cause of death. Rapid identification and treatment of ACS is critical in reducing morbidity and mortality. Yet studies show that many individuals delay 5 or more hours before seeking care. What role does culture play in symptom perception and emergent action? This study interviewed stable patients (female: 137; male: 76; mean age: 58 years) with a presumed or confirmed diagnosis of ACS arriving between October and December 2006 at two Central Brooklyn ERs. Culturally, subjects self-identified as: Caribbean (55.9%), African American (23.5%), Hispanic (8.9%), Haitian (5.2%), and other (6.5%). The majority were not US born (73.2%). Using a questionnaire, previously tested for validity and reliability, patients were interviewed within 12 hours of ER arrival regarding the most important symptoms that brought them to the hospital, symptom perception, and time of onset to time of ER arrival. Th...
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1. The Report of the Adult Treatment Panel on the Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults is designed to provide guidance to healthcare professionals in the detection, evaluation, and treatment of adult... more
1. The Report of the Adult Treatment Panel on the Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults is designed to provide guidance to healthcare professionals in the detection, evaluation, and treatment of adult hypercholesterolemic patients. 2. Dietary intervention, an essential part of every treatment plan, is highlighted followed by the introduction of drug treatment if the dietary intervention fails to achieve the desired results. 3. Guidelines for intervention at the worksite, including those using community resources, are discussed.
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Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States--in women as well as men. In 1987, CHD was responsible for 512,138 deaths, of which 253,542 deaths were attributed to acute myocardial infarction (AMI)... more
Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States--in women as well as men. In 1987, CHD was responsible for 512,138 deaths, of which 253,542 deaths were attributed to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and accounted for over $43 billion in direct and indirect costs. The disease spares no one. Primary prevention is clearly important, but for those in whom primary prevention has not been applied or has failed, acting to minimize the effect of a heart attack is of paramount importance. Many of its victims do not obtain appropriate medical care, or obtain it too late for the latest lifesaving technologies to be effective. The goal of treatment is to prevent death and to salvage as much heart tissue as possible. To achieve this goal, it is essential to minimize the time from the first symptoms and signs to treatment. Opportunities exist at each phase of an evolving AMI to intervene promptly and appropriately to prevent sudden death and to preserve cardi...
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Dyslipoproteinemia is prevalent in women as well as in men. In both, its consequences--premature atherosclerosis and CAD morbidity and mortality--are more common. Although clinical evidence of the benefits of cholesterol lowering is less... more
Dyslipoproteinemia is prevalent in women as well as in men. In both, its consequences--premature atherosclerosis and CAD morbidity and mortality--are more common. Although clinical evidence of the benefits of cholesterol lowering is less abundant in women, it is not entirely absent. As in men, cholesterol lowering in women is associated with a decline in CAD risk and with regression of coronary atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein risk factors have some special characteristics in women. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol may be a less important risk factor in women, perhaps because estrogen protects the arterial wall against LDL deposition. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol is a better predictor of risk in women than in men. Triglycerides are an independent predictor of CAD risk in postmenopausal women. The effects of endogenous gonadal hormones in life-cycle changes in women is evident. As girls pass through puberty, HDL-C levels do not fall as they do in boys of the same age. In pregn...