Reaching out to the African American community through innovative strategies

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To describe the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute's African American Cancer Program, including innovative strategies that were used, barriers that were encountered, an evaluation of each component, and future directions and implications. DATA SOURCES: Published articles, references from bibliographies, census data, personal contact, unpublished data. DATA SYNTHESIS: Cancer morbidity and mortality is higher among African Americans than Caucasians. The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute pilot-tested four interventions to increase awareness, provide education and early detection opportunities, and overcome barriers to cancer care among African Americans. CONCLUSION: Constant presence, cultural sensitivity, and repetition are necessary to overcome the barriers to increased awareness and behavioral changes in the African American community. A more formalized evaluation component is necessary to draw definitive conclusions. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: To develop cancer prevention and education programs that meet the unique needs of African Americans, nurses must be aware of barriers and cultural differences.