Our Vision

Pap Project Team

July 2005

Shelly:  Sage Screening Program competitive renewal in 2 years. Sage does not reach the measurement indicator goal “Reach Never/rarely screened women”.  Goal is 20%, Sage is at ~ 18%.  As a group –develop intervention to target the “never/rarely screened” (might be possible to allocate some Sage resources to this – such as manpower & materials development).  Choose a specific group to target, use the right materials, promotion, work with providers.  ***CDC defines “Never/rarely screened” as a woman who has not ever been screened or it has been > 5 years since screening ****

Marva:   Today’s Pioneer Press identifies some groups at higher risk, and still 4,000 deaths/year from invasive cervical cancer. Groups at higher risk included African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic.  Uof M Cancer Center very interested in working with Somali community & the Minnesota International Health Volunteers to increase cervical screening in Somali women (Somalia has one of the highest cervical cancer rates/world) Develop as a Pilot in partnership with MIHV, U of M Cancer Center, ACS & other stakeholders such as researchers at U of M. Possible funding.  ACS has incentive funding available.  Develop Pilot in Somali community, then replicate & adapt to other high-risk groups.

Betty:               Concur with Marva; also work with African American women.  Appropriate educational materials and approaches needed. Also Provide education needed

Benita:  ACS Friend to Friend, adapt to include cervical screening messages and education with coordinated screening appts available.  Utilize lay health workers trained to provide health education and help with events.  Education materials need to be culturally specific

Patricia: Concur with adapting & adding cervical education to F2F.  In Spanish speaking communities, educational materials need to be visually or orally presented.  Change age guideline for Sage so women < 40 could receive cervical screening.

Roshan:            Identify communities that are NOT screening for targeting interventions. American Indian communities may be such a group.  (Fond du Lac is developing their own Cancer Plan that will address disparities through having their own navigators, lay health workers, and appropriate educational materials).

Janet:   There has been increased visibility around CRC screening through ACS ad campaign that is directed to the layperson.  Do the same for cervical screening. Women not aware of cervical cancer, importance of screening, HPV, etc. Have a Media event/panel discussion/forum (in January – cervical cancer month) to spotlight this issue.  Also look at other media channels that reach groups under screening: ECHO, Somali TV, Radio Reye.  Develop a media “Road Show” on this topic that could be broadcast over various media channels.

Claire:               Use of Lay Health workers to disseminate message & provide education & support supported in the literature.  Studies of mass media have mixed results.  Will need to be thoughtful about which media channels work in which communities. Will also need to give thought to how the messages are framed (+/-), and the amount of information as can overwhelm.

Mary:    Concurs with all suggested. Do we need a catchy “mascot” the Talking speculum?  Education activities needed to raise the general level of awareness so women are informed Pap vs. pelvic, HPV. Other area is Provider education offered thoughtfully so do not offend. Perhaps look at HEDIS measures/as measured by health plans.  Begin a “conversation” with Providers.

Janet:   Janet’s organization has an EHDI grant with focus on CVD & DM, but the parish nurses would like to do more in the cancer education/prevention areas.  Build relationships, meet with elders to inform & engage in project, identify community spokesperson that has had the disease –putting a “face” on the story.