Building Evidence-based Action into Community Outreach Networks (BEACON) 2004-2009 BEACON is building partnerships with community cancer programs to connect research and practice, link community partners to existing resources and provide training on adapting and using programs shown to work in other settings. We believe that the best way to reduce the burden of cancer in communities experiencing cancer health disparities is to work together in developing and using programs (e.g. awareness, screening and educational) that have either been proven to work or have a high likelihood of success if put into practice. BEACON is a collaborative project involving Saint Louis University's Prevention Research Center (SLU-PRC), National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service (NCI-CIS), and the NCI-designated Center for Cultural Cancer Communication (4C) at SLU. BEACON works together with community partners to further its capacity to support and participate in cancer prevention and control research in Chicago, Kansas City, and St. Louis communities with cancer disparities.

Sustainable strategies for increasing CIS use among African American and Hispanics 2006-2008 The goal of this project is to increase awareness and use of the CIS 1-800-4-CANCER information line. We are working with the Heartland and South Central CIS Partnership Programs and with federally qualified health centers, community organizations, and other CPCRN community partners to distribute culturally appropriate resources relating to information about cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine in St. Louis, MO and the Lower Rio Grande Valley, TX.

Eliminating Health Disparities. 2003-2008. Click here to visit their website or go to http://hcrl.slu.edu/ehd.

Adherence to Public Health Directives in the Event of Plague Attack. 2005-2007 The HCRL worked with numerous partners to carry out research to investigate the effects of community and individual factors on the public's adherence to directives during an emergency. The research focused on the directives of quarantine and going to Points of Dispersals for medication. HCRL researchers helped to develop sampling strategies, interview protocols, and analysis plans. This project was unique as it was the first one of its kind to look at how community factors affect adherence to public health directives in the event of an emergency. Results showed that while community factors didn't seem to impact the information needs of community members they did effect what information sources would be trusted and likeliness to adhere.

Addressing Safety and Adverse Event Concerns About Influenza Vaccination. 2005-2007 The influenza vaccine has been shown to prevent serious illness, however many people don't get the vaccine. When it is available, fear of getting the flu or getting sick from the vaccine is the number one reason why people don't get their flu shots. This project utilized formative research and message testing to develop messages that were culturally appropriate for African Americans. The messages sought to address their concerns about getting sick from the vaccine, fears that the vaccine will interact with current medication, or that the vaccine doesn't work. Preliminary research showed that these messages had significant positive effects on knowledge of how the flu shot works and how the flu is transmitted, and disagreement with the statement the flu shot causes the flu.

Pre-Event Message Development Project. 2003-2006 Research teams at four schools of public health, including the Saint Louis University School of Public Health, conducted systematic qualitative research to assess information demands and media preferences from the general public, and to inform development and pre-testing of message materials for television, radio, web, and print distribution. Work at the HCRL centered around the information needs that would be required if there were a terrorism related outbreak of plague. The validity of the PEMDP findings was testing by an in-depth verification analysis (a method where a systematic literature review is carried out to allow the findings of related risk communication research to be compared to the PEMDP findings). Findings and related documents can be found on the First Hours website: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/firsthours/

Reflections of You (dissemination). 2002-2005. With support from the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the HCRL has developed an interactive kiosk which prints an individualized breast cancer awareness magazine for minority population women in St. Louis.

Statewide Walking Campaign. 2001.
Formative research was used to develop a media-based walking campaign pilot-tested in two medium-sized media markets in Missouri. Original messages were audience tested and based on audience research. Through collaboration with local health and community organizations the campaign was implemented successfully. Messages were designed to provide the public with ideas on where to walk, whom to walk with, when to walk, and why to walk. Messages were disseminated using radio, newspapers, billboards, and posters. The evaluation carried out in one of the intervention communities found that one out of three people interviewed in a random digit dial survey were exposed to the campaign and exposure was related to pro-walking beliefs about the social and pleasurable benefits of walking and with walking behavior. An article based on the project can be read at: http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2005/oct/05_0010.htm..

Using neighborhood-based lay media for health education to reduce CVD among urban Blacks in St. Louis. 2001. This is a demonstration project in which we evaluated the viability of using lay-produced neighborhood newsletters to reach urban Blacks in St. Louis with health information on CVD. Specifically, the project: 1) developed a simple desktop publishing system and train lay neighborhood residents to use it to produce and distribute a newsletter addressing locally-relevant issues and selected CVD topics; 2) conducted a process evaluation to determine how the system was used, how it could be improved, and the feasibility of using the approach on broader scale; and 3) conducted a preliminary outcome evaluation to determine the effects of the neighborhood newsletter on awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and behavior among those who received it. Focus group participants revealed that the newsletters were very well received and individuals from the neighborhoods (association director and Alderwoman) have continued to develop newsletters that carry health as well as other relevant information.

High Five for Kids, 2000-2004. The HCRL produced materials for a community-based intervention for children and parents designed to measure influence on fruit/vegetable intake and f/v preference, and whether all or part of improvements in child intake are explained by changes in parent behavior. Materials are delivered to families during home visits by Parents as Teachers parent educators. Along with four vividly illustrated storybooks, the HCRL produced audiotapes featuring storybook narration and four upbeat sing-along songs. Children also receive storybook character-themed coloring sheets and placemats. Parents receive a portable tape player, recipes, and a colorful calendar which highlights weekly health messages. Obesity Prevention Center/Debra Haire-joshu, PI. NIH/NCI-funded.

PARADE (Partners of all Ages Reading About Diet and Exercise). 2000-2004. Sixteen tailored children's storybooks are being developed for the Older Adult Services and Information Systems (OASIS) Intergenerational Tutoring Program. The tailored storybooks are just one component of this project which seeks to increase physical activity, decrease consumption of fat and increase fruit and vegetable intake in 7-9 year old children with low reading level skills. A successful pilot was conducted in 2000 and the first of three intervention waves is to begin 01/2002. St. Louis area school districts were randomly selected to receive either tailored storybooks based on physical activity and fat consumption or tailored storybooks based on fruit and vegetable intake. Each child involved in the program will receive a series of eight storybooks. St. Louis, MO: Funded by both the National Institutes of Health and the American Cancer Society.

Baby Be Safe. 1998-1999. Safe n' Sound. 2000-2002. Baby Be Safe is a computer tailored kiosk-based print intervention to address home and car safety for children ages 7- 23 months in the Washington, D.C. area. Safe n' Sound is an extention of the Baby Be Safe program, this is a computer tailored kiosk-based print intervention to address home and car safety for children ages 0 months- 4 years in East St. Louis, Illinois. Tonja Nansel, PhD, Principal Investigator, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Evaluation of the Arthritis Foundation Personalized Self-Management Program. 2000-2001. This project aims to evaluate an arthritis self-management program that has been developed for the Arthritis Foundation. The self-management program is offered to the general public, specifically to arthritis sufferers as a tailored, on-line program in which individuals can choose to voluntarily take part. In cooperation with the Arthritis Foundation a recruitment letter was emailed to people who fully completed the program, partially completed the program and did not complete the program, inviting them to go to a website where they could evaluate the program. The evaluation questionnaire asked about characteristics of the participants, patterns of use among the participants, participants' ratings and perceptions of program materials, and changes in behavior related to arthritis management. Preliminary results indicate that the Internet is an effective tool for reaching people with arthritis and related conditions to help them manage their health.

Production of Breast Health Educational Materials: Breast Self Exam Cards. 2000-2001. With funding from the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the HCRL is developing four BSE cards for women from different populations. One is targeted towards African-American women. The second is being developed for Arab women living in America. The third is targeted to Hispanic-American women, and the fourth to the general population of women in the United States. Through a series of focus groups, we seek to develop BSE cards that are more relevant for women, and therefore more likely to be used by them.

Breast Cancer Flip Chart for the Siteman Cancer Center. 2000-2001. A flip chart containing information about breast health, breast cancer surgeries, and other treatments that will be used when obtaining informed consent with breast cancer patients. The Breast Health Center at the Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis, MO.

PRISM(Prevention Research in Small-Market Media). 1999-2004. PRISM is a five-year translation and dissemination project that seeks to apply media advocacy and tailored health communication principles to promote greater awareness and application of chronic disease prevention in four mid-size Missouri communities. National and international prevention research findings will be translated into news stories that are locally-relevant for these specific communities, and disseminated to their community members via local newspapers, radio, and television news outlets.

Walking Trails. 1999-2002. Computer tailored newsletters are being developed to promote use of walking trails in the Bootheel Region of Missouri. Participants from the randomly assigned counties will receive pedometers with their first tailored newsletter to track their daily walking. Seven additional tailored newsletters will be delivered to these participants over a one year period. Several of the communities have card readers installed at the walking trail site. These card readers allow the participants to swipe their personal walking card each time they use the track. This data is used by SLU for walking pattern analysis and as feedback for the tailored newsletters. St. Louis, MO: Funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Reflections of You. 1999-2002. This 4-year study, Cultural Tailoring for Cancer Prevention in Black Women, funded by the National Cancer Institute is comparing three tailoring strategies to promote mammography or fruit and vegetable consumption. 1,227 African American women who use public health centers in St. Louis are each receiving 6 issues of a quarterly women's health magazine, randomly assigned to be tailored on behavioral variables (e.g, self-efficacy, stage of change), cultural variables (e.g., collectivism, religiosity, racial pride, and perception of time), a combination of the two, or to a delayed-intervention control group. The magazine, Reflections of You, contains tailored stories about breast health or dietary change, as well tailored stories about the lifestyle interests and activities of the participant. One-month follow-up data suggest that the magazines are very well-received by project participants, and 6-month follow-up data collection is nearly complete and ready for analysis. In addition, a sample of 400 women in North Carolina is receiving a slightly modified (made locally relevant) and brief version of the intervention, and 1-month follow-up will begin with these women in November of 2001.

Optimal Segmentation Strategies for Health Communication. 1999-2002. This 3-year randomized trial funded by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention evaluates the effects of a bimonthly physical activity magazine on overall physical fitness. Multi-ethnic lower- and middle-income adults (ages 18-65, n=1,000) from two public health centers and three worksite populations were randomly assigned to receive one of three intervention groups, or to a non-intervention control group. The intervention groups were based on demographic variable segmentation (age, race, gender), psychosocial/behavioral variable segmentation (motivation, social support, level of physical activity), or individually tailored health communication. Cost effectiveness of producing each segmentation strategy were also determined. Participants were tracked for 6 months to detect changes in exercise behavior.

Safety Land. 1999-2002. A computer tailored kiosk-based print intervention to encourage patients of the Harriet Lane Clinic at Johns Hopkins University to visit the Children's Safety Center, a place to buy low-cost safety supplies and speak to a health educator about home and car safety. Andrea Gielen, ScD, Principal Investigator, Johns Hopkins University.

Developing breast health booklets in English, Spanish, and Arabic. 1999-2001. In collaboration with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, materials focusing on breast health, breast cancer risk factors, and early detection are currently being developed in English, Spanish, and Arabic.

Facts For Life. 1999. Funded by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the SLU-HCRL developed a series of 50 different educational breast health fact sheets, Facts for Life. The fact sheets address a wide range of breast cancer issues, including risk, prevention, epidemiology, detection, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and tumor cell biology. The HCRL reported on the multi-stage development of the fact sheets at national scientific meetings. Facts for Life is now internationally distributed by the Foundation, and also available on its website (www.komen.org).

What's Happening? Coping with Breast Cancer. 1999. A series of four booklets for women and their family members on coping with breast cancer. Titles include: what's happening to me? coping and living with breast cancer; what's happening to the woman I love? couples coping with breast cancer; what's happening to the woman we love? families coping with breast cancer; what's happening to mom? helping children cope with breast cancer. Dallas, TX: The Susan G. Komen Foundation.

A Special Delivery. 1998-2000. These tailored newsletters provided lower-income pregnant women from rural Missouri counties with information about becoming a mother, managing anger, eating healthy, and avoiding tobacco use while pregnant and after their child's birth. By random assignment, women received these newsletters with or without the additional assistance of a "Resource Mom, " an older woman from the same community who provides support to the woman during pregnancy.

Point of Change. 1998. This study was designed to help overweight adults make dietary changes, exercise regularly, and comply with their doctor's recommended use of a prescription weight loss agent. Participants routinely provide weight-related information via phone interviews, self-administered surveys, or the world wide web, and Point of Change then used that information to created tailored print materials for weight loss and behavior change. The program is often seen in adverstisements for Meridia®, by Knoll Pharmaceutical.

ABC(A Baby Calendar) Immunization Calendar. 1997, 1999, 2001 A computer program that generates individualized monthly reminder calendars to increase immunization rates among babies from birth to two years of age. St. Louis, MO: Health Communication Research Laboratory. Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Deaconess Foundation, and the Greater St. Louis Health Foundation. Currently, 16 public health centers and other organizations in St. Louis, MO; East St. Louis, IL; Harlem, NY and Washington Heights, NY have adopted the program. The ABC Immunization Calendar® program was awarded the 2000 Healthy People Objectives Award, presented at the Technology Games of the Partnerships for Health in the New Millennium: Launching Healthy People 2010 Conference, convened by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC.

Partners in Women's Health. 1997-98. A computer tailored program to facilitate medication compliance among pre-, peri-, and post menopausal women at increased risk for heart disease and osteoporosis. Montvale, NJ: Merck Medco Managed Care and Innovative Health Solutions

Teen to Teen web site. Summer 1997. A web site created by and for teen agers. Four high school students spent a summer studying and working as interns in Health Communication Research Laboratory. They developed the concept and content for the web site.

Health Quest. 1997. A computer tailored print intervention to facilitate dietary change, physical activity and medication compliance among users of a lipid lowering medication, Questran. Philadelphia, PA: Bristol Myers Squibb

Thinking About Quitting. 1997. Funded by Lexant, Inc., a former subsidiary of Monsanto Company, this computer tailored program was designed to facilitate change in readiness to quite smoking among current smokers who were thinking about quitting. Extensive research went into developing the program, which sold nationally by Lexant as a health promotion service to health care systems. Locally, St. Louis' BJC Hospital used the system.

Doorway to Recovery. 1995. A computer tailored print intervention to support relapse prevention among recovering alcoholics. Wilmington, DE: DuPont Pharmaceutical Company.