The Puerto Rico Community Cancer Control Outreach Program: Developing Capacity-Building Activities on Cancer Screening Guidelines and HPV Vaccination Recommendations for Health Care Professionals.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated physicians' knowledge of cancer screening guidelines and human papillomavirus (HPV) recommendations. METHODS: The Puerto Rico Community Cancer Control Outreach Program in collaboration with the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program and the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program developed an educational activity for physicians who attended a professional annual meeting. This activity consisted of 2 sessions: one about cancer screening guidelines and the other about HPV and HPV vaccination. A survey measuring the attendees' knowledge of the session topics was administered before and after each session. Changes in knowledge were assesed using McNemar's test with a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 43 physicians responded to the survey about cancer screening, and 67 responded to the survey about HPV. A significant increase in the mean score of the pre-test (3.3 ± 1.42) and post-test (6.7 ± 1.38) of the cancer screening guidelines was observed as well as in that of the pre-test (7.82 ± 1.44) and post-test (9.66 ± 0.53) of HPV. The results showed that there were improvements regarding the most recent cervical cancer screening and colonoscopy guidelines as well as in the knowledge of HPV serotypes. CONCLUSION: This mid-day educational activity significantly improved knowledge among primary care physicians. Given its feasibility, future efforts should discuss the most recent cancer guidelines and emerging socio behavioral factors that impact vaccination.

¡Habla de VPH! An Educational Activity for College Students in Puerto Rico.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate human papillomavirus (HPV) infection knowledge, willingness to get vaccinated, and vaccination uptake, following a brief educational activity entitled ¡Habla de VPH! (Let's talk about HPV!) in a sample of college students at the University of Puerto Rico, Bayamón. METHODS: Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire developed by the research team, which gathered information regarding sociodemographic characteristics, HPV vaccination status, and willingness to receive the vaccine. Once the participant completed the survey, the staff of the Outreach Program conducted an educational activity. Study participants completed a pre- and post-test, which included a scale with items related to knowledge about HPV infection, associated malignancies, and the vaccine. To compute the mean knowledge score for each test, the correct responses were summed; the total scores for each test ranged from 0 to 11. Follow-up interviews (3 and 6 months) explored knowledge changes and-in the previously unvaccinated students-vaccine uptake. RESULTS: A total of forty students answered the questionnaire. A significant difference between the average knowledge before (7.6 ± 2.1) and after the intervention (10.6 ±0.6) (P < .001) was observed. Of the non-vaccinated group, 59.3% reported being interested in receiving the vaccine. By the 3- and 6-month follow-ups, only 2 students had started the vaccine series. CONCLUSION: Knowledge about HPV and associated malignancies increased significantly. However, few students initiated the vaccine after either of the followups. Future efforts should line up the vaccine promotion and outreach activities with immunization services, making the vaccine available in the communities to be impacted.

[Knowledge on polypharmacy in a group of 65-year-old people or older living in a sector of the metropolitan area of Puerto Rico]. / Conocimiento sobre polifarmacia en un grupo de personas de 65 años o más residentes en una egida del área metropolitana en Puerto Rico.

Addressing the high utilization of medications among the elderly, this study explored the degree of knowledge of polypharmacy and its consequences, as well as the pattern of utilization by a group of elders 65 years of age and over in the San Juan metropolitan area of Puerto Rico. A dual technique was utilized: focus groups and a survey. Two focus groups were performed in order to explore issues pertaining the following domains: quality of life, doctor-patient and pharmacist-patient relationships, degree of knowledge of polypharmacy, and need of information. A questionnaire was administered to obtain information regarding their pattern of drug utilization. Results of focus groups indicated that the elderly have learned how to cope with their chronic conditions and be able to continue with quality of life. Additionally, results suggested a need form the elderly to develop more assertiveness and closeness with their health care providers, both doctor and pharmacist; as well as a lack of sufficient knowledge of the serious implications that polypharmacy brings. Results from the survey revealed and confirmed their inappropriate utilization of medications, and suggest that this segment consults multiple physicians, all of which may bring potential problems of adverse drug interactions. Further investigation is needed to examine fully the issue of polypharmacy, as well as the need of education that results in empowerment of patients, families and communities.