IntroductionTobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. In Georgia, approximately 18% of adults smoke cigarettes, and 87% of men’s lung cancer deaths and 70% of women’s lung cancer deaths are due to smoking. From 2004–2008, the age-adjusted lung cancer incidence rate in Georgia was 112.8 per 100,000 population, and the mortality rate was 88.2 per 100,000 population.MethodsThe Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey was used to estimate trends in current adult smoking prevalence (1985–2010). Georgia smoking–attributable cancer mortality was estimated using a method similar to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Smoking-Attributable Morbidity, Mortality, and Economic Costs application. Data on cancer incidence (1998–2008) were obtained from the Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry, and data on cancer deaths (1990–2007) were obtained from the Georgia Department of Public Health Vital Records Program.ResultsFrom 1985 through 1993, the prevalence of smoking among Georgians declined by an average of 3% per year in men and 0.2% in women. From 2001 through 2008, lung cancer incidence rates declined in men and increased in women. Lung cancer mortality rates declined in men and women from 2000 through 2007. By 2020, Georgia lung cancer incidence rates are projected to decrease for men and increase for women. Lung cancer mortality is projected to decrease for both men and women.ConclusionThe lung cancer mortality rates projected in this study are far from meeting the Healthy People 2020 goal (46 per 100,000 population). Full implementation of comprehensive tobacco-use control programs would significantly reduce tobacco-use–related morbidity and mortality.
HPV-related cancers can be prevented through HPV vaccination, however uptake and completion of the vaccination in the state of Georgia remains suboptimal. The research team conducted two online focus groups with members of the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium HPV Work Group in efforts to better understand the role that the working group could have on increasing vaccination uptake and completion in the state of Georgia. Analysis of the focus groups was completed using a Grounded Theory approach. Various aspects of the Working Group were discussed throughout the focus groups with a number of key points for growth identified both by the participants during the discussion, and by the research team during analysis. Predominantly, a primary point for growth of the Working Group lies in building its capacity to collectively conduct HPV vaccination-related activities. An online webportal specifically designed for the Working Group was identified as a tool for improving Working Group communication, sharing best practices and resources, and to collectively develop activities, research projects, and HPV vaccine promotion events in a culturally
Although great progress has been made to define the field of health education and provide a voluntary certification system for professionals, research about the governmental health educator and health education specialist workforce is limited. The 2017 PH WINS (Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey) provides valuable data on understanding the workforce demographics, attitudes, and training needs of governmental public health workers, including health educators, and informs future investments in workforce development efforts nationally. The purpose of this article is to examine demographics, job engagement and satisfaction, training needs, certification, and other characteristics of health educators and certified health education specialists (CHES®) from PH WINS. We analyzed the data to describe the health educator workforce and compared it with the national governmental workforce across a range of variables. Compared with the national 2017 PH WINS sample, health educators were relatively younger, more ethnically diverse, more likely to be educated with an advanced degree, and were predominately employed in local versus state public health agencies. Health educators sampled were significantly more knowledgeable of all public health concepts compared with the national 2017 PH WINS respondent workforce. Comparison of CHES® versus non-CHES® professionals is also provided, along with practice and policy implications based on the data. This is the first detailed analyses of health educators in state and local health departments, with important findings and implications related to workforce composition, satisfaction, retention, and training. Further cross-sectional workforce research is needed to understand the current strengths and gaps in the health education workforce.
81 Background: The Georgia Cancer Control Consortium’s Survivorship Working Group conducted a needs assessment to understand physical, psychological, practical, and spiritual needs of adult survivors. Results were used to assess survivors’ level of distress and how effectively their needs were being met. Methods: Cross-sectional online and paper-based surveys developed using NCCN and Commission on Cancer (CoC) guidelines. Surveys were distributed through survivorship programs of CoC hospitals (n = 40) and cancer organizations via email, social media and mail. 740 responses received September-December 2014. Results: Respondents were primarily female (78%) married (65%), college-educated (55%) and insured (97%). 83% were White,16% were African American and 3% were Hispanic. 36% of respondents were within 1 year of treatment; 45% were 1 - 5 years post treatment. Survivors reported positive experiences with provider communication. Responses of ‘often’ or ‘very often’ were: provider gave them a chance to ask questions (90.6%); provider involved them in healthcare decisions (84.7%), provider spent enough time with them (78.5%) and provider helped with feelings of uncertainty about health issues or treatment (75.7%). Physical and emotional needs were not as effectively met as spiritual or practical needs. A higher proportion of survivors reported moderate to extreme levels of emotional distress with: depression (32.7%), anxiety (32.1%), stress (30.2%), fear of recurrence (28.2%) and defining a “new normal” (25.9%). 81% of survivors found information and assistance online (56%), in print materials (41%) and from providers/cancer centers (41%). 37% received a survivorship care plan (SCP); 98% reported the SCP was helpful. Conclusions: Results demonstrate the need for providers in Georgia to be educated about and responsive to survivors’ unmet needs and levels of distress. Survivors report positive communication with providers but lower levels of having physical and emotional needs addressed. Survivors actively seek resources and benefit from SCPs. Providers can contribute to addressing needs and reducing distress by maintaining strong communication, guiding survivors to evidence-based resources and implementing SCPs.
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