Educating Hispanic Women about Cervical Cancer Prevention: Feasibility of a Promotora-Led Charla Intervention in a Farmworker Community.

Hispanic women suffer disproportionately from cervical cancer incidence and mortality compared with non-Hispanic Whites in the United States. Peer-led health education and coaching via charlas (talking circles) may improve cervical cancer screening and early detection rates among specific sub-groups such as farmworker communities. This pilot study sought to collect preliminary evaluation data about the feasibility of implementing a promotora-led cervical cancer education intervention among women from a farmworker community. The study took place between April 2014 and November 2014. Created based on an established network (Tampa Bay Community Cancer Network, TBCCN), in partnership with a local farmworker organization (Farmworkers Self-Help, Inc.), the project entailed refinement of a curriculum guide including Spanish-language educational resources (teaching cards). Social Cognitive Theory and the Health Belief Model provided the conceptual framework for the study. Six women from the farmworker community helped to refine the intervention and were trained as promotoras. They successfully delivered the program via charlas to a total of 60 participants who completed baseline and post-intervention measures on knowledge (cervical cancer/HPV), beliefs, self-efficacy, and intentions. Findings demonstrated gains in knowledge and self-efficacy among charla participants (P<.0001), and support the promise of a community-driven intervention that is delivered by promotoras who use their cultural knowledge and trustworthiness to educate women about cancer screening practices. Results also add to the literature on the use of a charla approach for cancer prevention education within a farmworker community to prompt discussions about health. Future research should evaluate peer-led programs on a larger scale and among other at-risk groups in other community settings.

[Correlation of metabolic syndrome components in older Mexican women]. / Correlación de los componentes del síndrome metabólico en mujeres Mexicanas mayores de 60 años.

BACKGROUND: In woman aged over 60 years, body changes occur and might cause insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between the components of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and body mass index in women over 60 years, attended at the Geriatric Services in the Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto Hospital in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We performed an observational, descriptive and transversal study with non-probability sampling, selecting 61 women aged 60 years attended from 2006 to 2008, who have measured the body mass index (BMI), insulin resistance and homeostasis model (HOMA2), and identifying the components of metabolic syndrome according to the criteria of the World Health Organization. We used descriptive and inferential statistics with r Pearson and Chi Square. RESULTS: The mean age was 68 years. The average HOMA2 were 1.4 and 75 percentile 1.9. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was present in 23%. The association test with a p < 0.05 was considered significant for metabolic syndrome dysglucemia and obesity, but not for other components of metabolic syndrome. The triglycerides level correlated with insulin resistance (r = 0.325, p = 0.011), insulin resistance with glucose (r = 0.535, p = 0.000) and insulin resistance with BMI (r = 0.282, p = 0.28). CONCLUSIONS: It is important to properly define the components for the presence of metabolic syndrome in older women due to not all who qualify as obese have metabolic syndrome, and neither all the metabolic syndrome are associated with insulin resistance. The single alteration of one of the components of metabolic syndrome is not sufficient to cause insulin resistance.

[Prevalence of chromosomal alterations in infertile patients studied in a clinic of assisted reproduction]. / Prevalencia de alteraciones cromosómicas en pacientes infértiles estudiadas en una clínica de reproducción asistida.

BACKGROUND: Chromosomal abnormalities are a frequent cause of infertility. There is not consensus if should be included in the work-up of infertile couple. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities in our population of infertile couple and support the cytogenetic exam in the initial protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 787 infertile patients divided in five groups, to whom a cytogenetic exam was performed between January 2004 and April 2007. RESULTS: The prevalence of general chromosomal abnormalities was 12.5% (98/787). We found a 14.8% (34/229) with severe male factor, 14.3% (2/14) with premature ovarian failure, 12.3% (20/162) with recurrent pregnancy loss, 8% (9/112) idiopathic infertility and 12.2% (33/270) associated with other causes. The major alterations correspond to trisomies, translocations, and 9 chromosome markers. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study are consistent with those reported in the literature which are associated with a greater prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities in infertile couples compared with the general population, this findings show the importance of consider the cytogenetic study in the initial diagnosis protocol of infertile couple.

Development and validation of the biobanking attitudes and knowledge survey (BANKS).

BACKGROUND: No validated multiscale instruments exist that measure community members' views on biobanking and biospecimen donation. This study describes the development and psychometric properties of the English-language BANKS (Biobanking Attitudes and Knowledge Survey). METHODS: The BANKS was created by item generation through review of scientific literature, focus groups with community members, and input from a community advisory board. Items were refined through cognitive interviews. Content validity was assessed through an expert panel review. Psychometric properties of the BANKS were assessed in a sample of 85 community members. RESULTS: The final BANKS includes three scales: attitudes, knowledge, and self-efficacy; as well as three single items, which evaluated receptivity and intention to donate a biospecimen for research. Cronbach α coefficients for two scales that use Likert response format indicated high internal consistency (attitudes: α, 0.88; self-efficacy: α, 0.95). Content validity indices were moderate, ranging from 0.69 to 0.89. Intention to donate blood and intention to donate urine were positively correlated with attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, and receptivity to learning more about biobanking (P values range from 0.029 to <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The final BANKS shows evidence of satisfactory reliability and validity, is easy to administer, and is a promising tool to inform biospecimen research. Additional studies should be conducted with larger samples considering biospecimen donation to further assess the reliability and validity of the instrument. IMPACT: A valid and reliable instrument measuring community members' views about biobanking may help researchers evaluate relevant communication interventions to enhance understanding, intention, and actual biospecimen donation. A Spanish-language BANKS is under development.