A Ten Year Experience of Men's Health Events in a Socioeconomically Diverse City in the United States - Lessons Learned.

Community-based health events provide an opportunity to increase knowledge, awareness, and screening for acute and chronic diseases among individuals living in a socioeconomically diverse community. Because there are limited reports of such events, here we describe our ten-year experience of annual men's health fairs. This retrospective study of the Michigan Institute of Urology Foundation evaluated Men's Health Events held in Detroit, Michigan, from 2012 to 2021. Over 10 years, 11,129 men were screened and > 100,000 screenings were performed. The majority of the attendees were African-American men (61%), had a college degree (67%) or a high school diploma (26%), and had an annual income of <$35K (47%) or $35-60 K (30%). From 2012 to 2021, participants who saw a doctor in the past year rose from 62 to 70%; the median age of men rose from 52 to 58; their median testosterone levels increased from 353 ng/dL to 412 ng/dL, and men with concerning prostate-specific antigen values (≥ 4 ng/mL) doubled from 5% to 10%. Among participants, 59% had cholesterol levels of < 200 mg/dL, 28% of 200-240 mg/dL, and 13% of > 240 mg/dL; 7% had glucose levels of < 70 mg/dL, 68% of 70-105 mg/dL, and 25% of > 105 mg/dL ; 24% had ≥ 140 mmHg systolic and 18% had ≥ 90 mmHg diastolic blood pressure. Our findings suggest that community health events are successful at attracting and screening diverse community members. Such events should emphasize screening of high-risk individuals for acute and chronic diseases and promote other health-related behaviors.

APA Health CARE: A Student-Led Initiative Addressing Health Care Barriers Faced by the Asian and Pacific Islander American Immigrant Population in Los Angeles.

Asian and Pacific Islander Americans face cultural, linguistic, and financial barriers to accessing health care. APA Health CARE (APAHC), a UCLA student-led organization, attempts to bridge these disparities through free community health screenings, health education seminars, and follow-up procedures. From 2011 to 2018, participants' demographic and health-related information were recorded during health fairs and follow-up phone calls. Trends in participant characteristics were analyzed over time. Health fair data were compared to data from follow-up phone calls to assess the effectiveness of health fair education and referral practices. 5635 participants from 69 health fairs were screened over the 8-year period. Follow-up contact was attempted for 2258 participants, of which 555 responded. Over time, a greater proportion of participants reported higher income, health insurance, and access to a regular doctor. Of those contacted at follow-up, 32.3% reported visiting a doctor, 50.2% reported making lifestyle changes, and 68.0% of those who were uninsured at health fairs reported obtaining health insurance within 1 month of attendance. Despite an observed increase in the proportion of participants having insurance and a regular doctor, health fair attendance remained consistent, possibly due to Asian American immigrants' preference for services that are convenient and linguistically and culturally accessible. Attendees reported visiting a physician, making lifestyle changes, and obtaining health insurance based on health fair referrals, suggesting measurable success with referral uptake and follow through. Student-led initiatives similar to APAHC can serve as catalysts to increase health literacy and motivate communities to seek health insurance and care.

Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors by Key Demographic Variables Among Mid-South Church Leaders from 2012 to 2017.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors were examined among church leaders (n = 2309) who attended Mid-South United Methodist Church annual meetings between 2012 and 2017 using repeated cross-sectional data. There was a significant increase in body mass index (BMI) (b = 0.24, p = 0.001) and significant decreases in blood pressure (systolic: b = - 1.08, p < 0.001; diastolic: b = - 0.41, p = 0.002), total cholesterol (b = - 1.76, p = 0.001), and blood sugar (b = - 1.78, p = 0.001) over time. Compared to Whites, a significant increase was seen in BMI (b = 1.14, p = 0.008) among participants who self-identified as "Other," and a significant increase was seen in blood pressure (systolic: b = 1.36, p = 0.010; diastolic: b = 1.01, p = 0.004) among African Americans over time. Results indicate BMI and blood pressure are important CVD risk factors to monitor and address among church leaders, especially among race/ethnic minority church leaders.

Screening children for type 1 diabetes-associated antibodies at community health fairs.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is increasing, most notably in young children and in racial and ethnic minorities. Historically, screening for risk with T1D-associated antibodies has been limited to those with a family history, while up to 90% of newly diagnosed patients lack such a family history. To address the needs to screen diverse ethnic groups in the general population, we screened children for T1D-associated antibodies in the Denver, Colorado metro area at community health fairs. METHODS: Children attending health fairs from 2015 to 2018 were offered free T1D screening by measuring the four prototypical T1D-associated antibodies. A finger stick capillary puncture was performed to collect blood spots on filter paper. Dried blood spots (DBSs) were eluted and antibodies were measured using fluid-phase radio-binding assays. RESULTS: At 39 health fairs, children were educated on the signs and symptoms of diabetes, and screened for T1D-associated antibodies (n = 478), which represented 90% of those that attended. Median age was 9.0 years (range of 1-18) with diverse ethnic backgrounds: 37% Hispanic, 31% Caucasian, 20% African American, and 12% other. Nine children screened positive for antibodies, single n = 8 and multiple n = 1, and confirmation with serum samples showed excellent correlation to the measurements from DBSs for antibodies directed against GAD, IA-2, and ZnT8 (P < .01 for each). CONCLUSIONS: Screening for T1D risk at community health fairs using DBSs on filter paper is feasible and provides an avenue to screen children from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Advocating for Breast Heath Education for College-Age Students.

Awareness of the risk factors associated with breast cancer can alleviate fear and anxiety, and can lead people to pursue prevention. This article describes a university's annual breast health education event focused on breast health awareness and breast cancer education. Community health organizations and student organizations serve as exhibitors and provide students with opportunities to test their knowledge and dispel myths. Over the past 5 years this event has reached more than 2,000 students. Initiatives such as this event provide health educators with an opportunity to reach this highly vulnerable population.

Evaluation of a nursing student health fair program: Meeting curricular standards and improving community members' health.

BACKGROUND: Public health nursing (PHN) is an essential component of baccalaureate nursing education. In order to build PHN competencies, universities must design and operationalize meaningful clinical activities addressing community and population health. Currently, there is a paucity of literature delineating best practices for promoting competency in PHN. AIMS: The purpose of this manuscript is to describe a PHN-student health fair program as a means for meeting undergraduate PHN curricular standards, and to report results of an evaluation conducted examining its effectiveness in improving community member's health knowledge. METHODS: Health fairs were held at community agencies that served the homeless or victims of intimate partner violence. A total of 113 community members that attended a health fair were assessed at baseline and immediate posttest using open-ended questionnaires. The design of the health fairs included a community assessment, intervention, and evaluation flow that followed the nursing process. RESULTS: We report that results from participants surveyed indicated that PHN-student delivered health fairs improved health knowledge among community members in this sample (p = .000). CONCLUSION: Health fairs conducted by PHN students appear to be promising community health promotion and disease prevention interventions that can serve as an effective strategy for teaching PHN student competencies and facilitating engagement with the community.

Reach and Capacity of Black Protestant Health Ministries as Sites of Community-Wide Health Promotion: A Qualitative Social Ecological Model Examination.

Black communities in the Southeast United States experience a disproportionate burden of illness and disease. To address this inequity, public health practitioners are partnering with Black Protestant churches to deliver health promotion interventions. Yet, the reach of these programs beyond the organizational level of the Social Ecological Model (SEM) is not well defined. Thus, the aim of this study is to understand Black Protestant church leaders' and members' perceptions about the capacity of their ministries to reach into their communities, beyond their congregations, as providers or hosts of health education or promotion interventions. From 20 Black Protestant churches in Atlanta, GA, 92 church leaders and members participated in semi-structured interviews. Grounded theory guided data analysis and a diverse team coded the interviews. Most participating churches had health ministries. Participants saw the boundaries between their churches at the organizational level of the SEM and the broader Black community to be porous. Those who described their "community" as being broader than their congregation also tended to describe community-wide health promotion their church engaged in. They described church-based health fairs as a strategy to promote engagement in their communities. Some participants, particularly those in a health-related profession, discussed visions of how to utilize their church as a site for community-wide health promotion. We suggest these participants may be boundary leaders who can build relationships between public health professionals, pastors, and congregants. Based on the findings, we suggest that church-based health fairs may be effective sites of community-wide health promotion.

Undergraduate Medical School Health Fair Hepatitis Screenings: Utilizing Non-Profit Community Organizations.

BACKGROUND: Undergraduate medical schools serve a critical role in providing screenings to medically underserved populations through the use of health fairs. Non-profit community organizations (NPCO) often participate by providing local credibility, administrative resources, and technical knowledge. Here we present a three-year narrative of hepatitis B and C screening efforts to highlight the challenges and benefits of undergraduate medical school and NPCO partnerships. METHODS: Hepatitis screenings were conducted at biannual health fairs in Harlem, New York from 2017 to 2019. Meeting minutes from post-event debriefings were analyzed to identify any overarching themes with NPCOs. RESULTS: NPCOs share a common goal in working with the community to advance their access to medical care and treatment. Communication and prompt follow-up are critical to maintaining expectations between NPCOs and health fair organizers. CONCLUSIONS: NPCOs can play an important role in encouraging, outreaching, and even managing hepatitis screening initiatives in conjunction with medical school health fairs.

Cancer screening information at community health fairs: What the participants do with information they receive.

BACKGROUND: To assess participants' reasons for seeking cancer screening information at community health fairs and what they do with the information they receive. DESIGN AND METHODS: Mixed quantitative and qualitative approach was used. Community health fairs are organized in underserved New York City neighbourhoods. From June 14, 2016 to August 26, 2016, cancer prevention tables providing information about various cancer screenings were established at 12 local community health fairs in New York City. In-person and follow up telephone surveys assessing interest in the cancer prevention table, personal cancer screening adherence rates, information-sharing behaviours and demographic variables have been taken into account. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS 22.0: frequencies, descriptive, cross tabulations. All qualitative data was coded by theme so that it could be analysed through SPSS. For example, Were you interested in a specific cancer? may be coded as 2 for yes, breast cancer. RESULTS: One hundred and sixteen patrons participated in the initial survey. Of those, 88 (78%) agreed to give their contact information for the follow-up survey and 60 follow-up surveys were completed (68%). Of those who reported reading the material, 45% shared the information; 15% subsequently spoke to a provider about cancer screenings and 40% intended to speak to a provider. CONCLUSIONS: Participants disseminated information without prompting; suggesting the reach of these fairs extends beyond the people who visit our table. Future studies should look at whether patrons would share information at higher rates when they are explicitly encouraged to share the information.

Las ferias como medio para la promoción de la salud en la comunidad universitaria: pasos hacia una educación positiva / Fairs as a means of promoting health in the university community: steps towards a positive education

Objetivo: la promoción de la salud en términos positivos y de bienestar, implica concebirla como el proceso en el que la comunidad aumenta el control sobre su salud, y la mejora. Las universidades tienen grandes capacidades para ello; por ejemplo, en ferias de salud que rompen los esquemas tradicionales unidireccionales y pasivos de los programas de salud. El programa de salud integral de la Universidad Veracruzana (México) implementó en su primera etapa estrategias para la promoción, prevención y tratamiento de enfermedades. Más tarde incorporó una visión más integral acorde a las necesidades enmarcadas en los objetivos sostenibles y la promoción de la salud comenzó a realizarse a través de ferias. No obstante, la comunidad universitaria dudaba que su realización tuviera beneficios. Materiales y métodos: se evaluó el efecto de las ferias en la salud y bienestar percibido por los estudiantes y su entorno y se identificaron las virtudes y fortalezas de carácter, las cuales son esenciales para la vida en bienestar. Resultados: la participación de los estudiantes en las ferias de salud les aporta conocimientos y habilidades para mejorar su salud, así como para adoptar estilos de vida acordes al autocuidado y la sustentabilidad. Además, las 24 fortalezas están presentes en todos los estudiantes, aunque el autocontrol fue la fortaleza menos presente. Conclusiones: las ferias son espacios que promueven la salud, al lograr transmitir y apropiar información, al mismo tiempo que acercan y educan a diferentes públicos de manera efectiva lúdica..Au

Objective: the promotion of health in positive and well-being terms implies conceiving it as the process in which the community increases control over its health and improves it. Universities in this sense have great capacities for their promotion, for example, health fairs break the traditional unidirectional and passive schemes of health programs. The comprehensive health program of the Universidad Veracruzana, implemented in its first stage strategies for the promotion, prevention and treatment of diseases. Later, it incorporated a more comprehensive vision according to the needs framed in the sustainable objectives and the promotion of health began to be carried out through fairs. However, there was a perception in the university community that its implementation had no benefits. Materials and methods: the effect of the fairs on the perceived health and well-being of the students and their environment was evaluated, and the virtues and strengths of character, which are essential for life in well-being, were identified. Results: the participation of the students provides them with knowledge and skills to improve their health, as well as to adopt lifestyles consistent with self-care and sustainability. In addition, the 24 strengths are present in all students, although self-control was the least present strength. Conclusions: fairs are spaces that promote health, by transmitting and appropriating information, at the same time that they approach and educate different audiences in an effective playful way..Au

The impact of student pharmacists at health fair events.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate student pharmacists' impact on health fair participant knowledge of selected disease states and to evaluate the intent of health fair participants with abnormal screening results to seek follow-up care within 1 month of screening. METHODS: Health fair participants were assessed for changes in their knowledge of specific diseases before and after screenings. Participants' intent to seek health care was assessed through a survey instrument developed using Rosenstock's Health Belief Model. RESULTS: Increases in participant knowledge of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and body mass index were significant, and 78% of participants with abnormal results intended to contact a provider. CONCLUSIONS: Student pharmacists' had a positive impact on health fair participants' disease knowledge and intent to follow up with a provider.

Construção de espaços de escuta, diagnóstico e análise coletiva de problemas de saúde pública com a linguagem teatral: o caso das oficinas de jogos teatrais sobre a dengue / Construction of spaces for listening, diagnosis and collective analysis of problems of public health using theatrical language: the case of workshops of theatrical games relating to dengue / Construcción de espacios de escucha, diagnóstico y análisis colectivo de problemas de salud pública con el lenguaje teatral: el caso de los talleres de juegos teatrales en el dengue

As características históricas, sociais e ecológicas da dengue têm motivado ações de educação em saúde visando medidas preventivas. Ações educativas e comunitárias que partam do contexto da população envolvida têm sido apontadas como cruciais. No presente estudo, investigou-se a utilização da linguagem teatral como estratégia para caracterizar as concepções de educadores envolvidos na prevenção da dengue, por meio de Oficinas de Jogos Teatrais. A linguagem teatral foi escolhida por ser dialógica, estabelecer relação com a inventividade da ciência, estimular a colaboração e provocar a ação espontânea dos participantes. A análise dos resultados evidenciou o relato dos educadores sobre a sensação de isolamento profissional bem como a desconfiança quanto à credibilidade do poder executivo. Concluímos que é possível utilizar experiências teatrais para organizar espaços propícios à análise coletiva de situações ligadas a problemas de saúde pública, estimulando ações cooperativas por parte dos educadores.

The historical, social and ecological characteristics of dengue have motivated a variety of health educational actions aimed at preventive measures. Educational and community actions starting from the context of the population involved have been indicated to be crucial. In the present study, the use of theatrical language as a strategy to characterize the conceptions of educators involved in dengue prevention was investigated through workshops of theatrical games. Theatrical language was chosen because of its dialogical nature, in order to establish a relationship with scientific inventiveness and to stimulate collaboration and spontaneous action among the participants. Analysis on the results showed that the educators have a feeling of professional isolation and that were mistrustful of the credibility of executive authorities. We conclude that it is possible to use theatrical activities for organizing spaces suitable for collective analysis on situations relating to public health problems, through stimulating cooperative actions by educators.

Las caracteristicas históricas, sociales y ecológicas del Dengue han generado varias acciones de educación en salud, dirigidas a su prevención. Las acciones educativas y comunitarias que partan del contexto de la población participante han sido señaladas como cruciales. Se investigó la utilización del lenguaje teatral como estrategia para caracterizar las concepciones de los educadores involucrados en la prevención del Dengue, por medio de Talleres de Juegos Teatrales. El lenguaje teatral fue elegido por ser dialógico, establecer relación con la capacidade de creación de la ciencia, estimular la colaboración y provocar la acción espontánea de los participantes. Los resultados mostraron la sensación de aislamiento profesional entre los educadores, bien como su desconfianza en relación a la credibilidad del poder ejecutivo. Concluimos que es posible utilizar experiencias teatrales para organizar espacios propicios para el análisis colectivo de situaciones relacionadas a los problemas de salud pública.