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Background HPV DNA testing has been shown to be an effective approach to cervical cancer screening, and self-collection sampling for HPV testing could be a potential alternative to Pap test, provided that women who tested positive by any method get timely follow-up and care. This feasibility study examined acceptability and usability of self-collected sampling for HPV testing among African American (AA) women in the Mississippi Delta in order to inform the development of interventions to promote cervical cancer screening in this population. Methods The study consisted of two phases. Phase I consisted of eight focus groups (N=87) with AA women to explore knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about cervical cancer and HPV infection as well as acceptability of self-collected sampling for HPV testing. In Phase II, we examined the usability of this technology through one discussion group (N=9). The Health Belief Model guided data collection and analysis. Results Although participants perceived themselves as susceptible to cervical cancer and acknowledged its severity, there was a lack of knowledge of the link between HPV and cervical cancer, and they expressed a number of misconceptions. The most frequent barriers to screening included embarrassment, discomfort, and fear of the results. Women in both phases were receptive to self-collection sampling for HPV testing. All participants in the usability phase expressed that self-collection was easy and they did not experience any difficulties. Conclusion Self-collection for HPV testing is an acceptable and feasible method among AA women in the Mississippi Delta to complement current cytology cervical cancer screening programs.

Purpose-Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Adolescent and young adults aged 15-24 were estimated to account for three quarters of new infections in 2000. Two HPV vaccines are currently available. The vaccine is recommended for girls aged 11-12 years. Previous research has indicated that African-American and Asian-American parents are less likely to vaccinate their daughters than Caucasians. This investigation examines the relationship between demographic, medical, and behavioral risk factors for HPV vaccine acceptability among Alabama residents.Methods-The cross sectional survey was conducted using random digit dialing. Eligible participants were female caregivers of adolescent girls between the ages of 10 and 14 years. Factors related to intention to vaccinate a daughter within the next 6 months were examined using chi-square and logistic regression.Results-Caregivers who were informed about HPV vaccination from a health care provider were more likely to intend to vaccinate their daughter within the next 6 months compared to caregivers who did not report this source of information (OR=3.59 , 95% CI= 1.52, 8.45). Race, education, county of residence, child's age, religious attendance, knowledge and history of HPV, perceived susceptibility and severity of infection were not significantly related to intention to vaccinate against HPV.Conclusion-Caregivers who were informed of the vaccine by their health care provider were more likely to vaccinate their adolescent daughters. Provider attitudes and caregiver education is an essential link to improvement of HPV vaccination uptake in Alabama.

Although cervical cancer screening rates have increased in the United States, there are still geographic areas that experience a high cervical cancer burden, including the Mississippi Delta. Human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection may be a feasible alternative to traditional clinician-collection for cervical cancer screening for under-screened women. This study examined women's preferences for cervical cancer screening methods. Interviewer-administered questionnaires regarding cervical cancer screening preferences were completed by 524 African American women in the Mississippi Delta. Statistically significant differences were observed for age, employment status, and number of children across recruitment groups. Regardless of how women were recruited, the majority preferred self-sampling for HPV testing method to clinician-collection. Among women who preferred self-collected sampling for HPV testing, the most frequent reasons given were convenience, privacy, and comfort. Alternative strategies must be considered when targeting the under-screened to reduce the burden of cervical cancer.

The JCE publication history exceeds 600 peer reviewed cancer education articles. Two methodological approaches were used for a retrospective perspective of JCE quality: Journal Impact Factor (JIF) and Citation Analysis (CA). The Journal Impact Factor comparison included only medical or health journals with an educational focus. Citation Analysis was conducted to identify attributes of most cited JCE articles and their cancer education focus. Despite concerns in the literature about the merits of both methods, results provided useful insights about JCE quality. Results will guide quality improvement plans and assist authors interested in publishing their cancer education research results in the JCE.

Long-term follow-up is needed to evaluate the impact of short-term cancer research programs on the career trajectories of medical and graduate students. Participation in these programs may be crucial in fostering the next generation of cancer research scientists. This report presents the career outcomes and research productivity of 77 medical and public health students with 25 years of tracking data following their participation in a summer cancer research training program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 1990-1998. Of 64 summer trainees with contact information, complete survey responses were received from 55 (86.0%) individuals. Over half reported clinical care of cancer patients and 18.2% stated that they were engaged in cancer research. Literature searches confirmed that 23.4% (18/77) of trainees have published cancer research papers. Future studies should explore the optimal timing of short-term post-baccalaureate academic cancer training experiences to identify participant characteristics and institutional factors that influence career choices and determine research productivity.

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