ONS Connect - June 2008 - (Page 15)

[One nURse’s PeRsPeCtiVe] How Are You Reducing Disparities Across the Cancer Continuum? Tailored Educational Messages Increase Screening Behavior Usha Menon, PhD, RN Usha Menon, PhD, RN, is an associate professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Illinois–Chicago. O ncology care providers remain challenged knowing that certain segments of our population continue to bear an unequal burden in relation to cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality. You may well ask why, with all the advances in medical care and treatment, does this continue? The answer is multifaceted and relates to obvious factors such as lack of health insurance and low income as well as patients’ beliefs and past experiences with the healthcare system. Given that the U.S. population is rapidly aging, I believe that we will see the greatest impact in cancer disparities if we focus on prevention and early detection. To this end, I have developed and tested tailored and targeted interventions to increase cancer screening behavior among average-risk individuals aged 50 or older. Through computer-based tailoring or customizing, we are able to make our educational messages culturally appropriate and relevant to each individual. In past research, we have found that tailored messages are better remembered than nontailored ones. Such customizing allows us to talk to people about screening using their race or ethnicity, cultural values, age, gender, and even knowledge and beliefs as the backdrop for the conversation. These programs are being tested in my current National Institutes of Health–funded studies and show good potential for increasing early detection of cancer. Regular screening leads to early detection, which is significantly associated with chances of greater survival. This will lead us ultimately to decreasing disparities in the early detection of cancer. ✱ Note. Menon’s research program is supported, in part, by funds awarded by the National Institutes of Health (R21 CA100566 and R01 NR008425). June 2008 ONS CONNECT 15

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ONS Connect - June 2008 Contents Editor's Note Just In They Have a Dream A Year in the Life—Month Six Web Connect Capitol Connection Notice Nursing Now Caregiver Care Manage Skin Toxicities Associated With EGFR Inhibitors Blood Test for Ovarian Cancer May Be 99 Percent Accurate Calendar of Events Working For You Staying On Top

ONS Connect - June 2008

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