Scheduled for Research Coordinating Board Oral Presentations I, Thursday, April 1, 2004, 8:45 AM - 10:00 AM, Convention Center: 211/212


Effectiveness of Training On Breast Cancer for Latino Males

Helda Pinzon-Perez, California State University at Fresno, Fresno, CA and Inez Rodriguez, Fresno Migrant Head Star, Fresno, CA

This study intended to determine changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among Latino males, regarding the adoption of breast cancer prevention strategies by their female sexual partners, as a result of educational interventions. The utlimate goal was to motivate participants to become active motivators for their sexual partners' adoption of health promotion strategies (breast self-exam, clinical exam, and mammograms). A review of the literature suggested that males can be essential elements influencing a woman's decision to adopt breast cancer preventive behaviors. It involved the development of three educational sessions with Latino farmworker males living in Fresno, California. A questionnaire measuring knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards females' prevention of breast cancer was given to participants at the beginning of the first educational session; a second questionnaire was administered at the end of the second session (eight days later),and a third one was administered during the last educational session (one month later). The first educational session addressed knowledge issues regarding breast cancer prevention (How to do a breast self-exam, what is a mammogram, etc); the second session addressed attitudes and behaviors regarding females' breast cancer prevention. Results indicated significant differences in participants' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors' between the first educational session and the third one. Recommendations for cultural sensitive research with Latino males is discussed in this presentation.

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