Understanding Lung Cancer Resources and Barriers Among Worksites With Mostly Male Employees in Eight Rural Kentucky Counties: A Focus Group Discussion.

Kentucky has the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the United States, and lung cancer is Kentucky's leading cause of cancer deaths. Males in Kentucky have higher lung incidence and mortality rates than females. Through support from the SelfMade Health Network, Kentucky developed a Regional Resource Lead Organization that collaboratively developed a multi-component worksite intervention on lung cancer among male populations. The intervention targets eight Kentucky counties. The first component and focus of this manuscript included focus group meetings with organizational representatives in each county that provide health, educational, and social services to men and worksites. The focus groups discussed four distinct areas: (a) lung cancer-related resources and services in each county; (b) perceived ways men in worksites learn about and access health-related services; (c) identification of potential challenges and barriers to reaching men in worksites; and (d) creation of linkages and potential partnerships between community organizations and worksites. Forty-five organizational representatives participated in the eight focus groups. Most resources and services discussed were related to tobacco treatment. Employers were the most commonly perceived way men learn about and access health-related services, while attitudes and behaviors were the most commonly perceived barriers preventing men from accessing services. The most common potential linkages and partnerships across all areas were community organizations and groups, employers, health-care providers, and mass media. Partnering with employers may provide an opportunity to reach males with lung cancer prevention and control resources and services.

Evaluation of educational materials on colorectal cancer screening in Appalachian Kentucky.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the availability of preventive screening for colorectal cancer, compliance with screening recommendations in Appalachian Kentucky is low. Although there are various cancer education materials available, none focus on Appalachian populations and few on low-literacy populations. The purpose of this study was to assess the type of information needed in written educational materials about colorectal cancer for Appalachian populations in Kentucky. METHODS: Seven focus groups were held in two Appalachian regions of Kentucky. Thirty-four members of the community participated in four focus groups held for the general public, and 15 staff members of primary care physicians' offices participated in three focus groups. One facilitator led all seven focus groups using a moderator's guide. Participants were asked to review and rank two fact sheets and two brochures about colorectal cancer according to perceived effectiveness. RESULTS: There was consensus between the general public focus groups and physician office staff focus groups about the ranking of materials. All groups preferred the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Screen for Life: National Colorectal Cancer Action Campaign fact sheet and brochure to the other materials. They indicated that factors such as print size, inclusion of diagrams, and clear and simple presentation of the information were important and made the materials easier to use and understand. A consensus was also reached among groups on the relative importance of types of information that should be provided in the materials. CONCLUSION: The use of educational materials to communicate messages about cancer screening is important in increasing awareness and providing valuable health information. Members of the Appalachian community and staff members of physicians' offices preferred and recommended use of Screen for Life materials for low-literacy and Appalachian populations over other educational materials.