Electra Paskett, PhD, MSPH 

Using a five-year, $7.5 million grant from the National Cancer Institute, researchers at OSU and the University of Michigan have created a Center for Population and Population Health Disparities to focus on cancer in underserved populations.

Led by Center Director Electra Paskett, PhD, MSPH, holder of the Marion N. Rowley Professor-ship in Cancer Research at OSU and principal investigator for the grant, the Center is trying to understand high cervical cancer incidence and mortality in Appalachian Ohio.

To do this, Paskett and colleagues have launched a three-part study to 1) test the effectiveness of a lay health educator intervention program that promotes risk-appropriate Pap smear use and
follow-up care for women with detected abnormalities, 2) examine the effectiveness of lay health educator interventions for smoking cessation, and 3) compare factors related to cervical cancer among women with and without abnormal Pap test results.

Researchers have begun working with health care administrators and clinicians in a 17-county region to identify women who may be eligible for the study, which is called the CARE (Community Awareness Resources and Education) Project.

Paskett says the study will identify environmental, health and lifestyle factors that may contribute to cervical cancer. “Our long-term goal is to reduce incidence and suffering from this disease,” she explains, “but first we have to find out what’s behind the unusually high rate of cervical cancer in this region so we can design appropriate interventions.”

In another study stemming from the Center, Paskett led a team of scientists from OSU and Wake Forest University who found that rural and minority women – especially Native Americans – face barriers to cancer screenings that could save their lives. Published in the Dec. 1, 2004, edition of the journal Cancer, the study involved women in Robeson County, NC, one of the poorest areas in the state.

Trying to raise mammography use among poor rural women over 40, researchers surveyed a mix of African-American, Native American and Caucasian women about their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding breast and cervical cancer screening. They found that, overall, the women had poor knowledge about screening and that Native Americans and African-Americans knew significantly less than Caucasians.

Many had had at least one mammogram, but only 58 percent had received one in the past three years. At issue were money, lack of insurance, fear, embarrassment and lack of screening encouragement from physicians. Paskett says these findings will help design interventions to improve cancer screening.

Center for Health and Health Disparities investi-gators include: Karen Ahijevych, PhD, RN; William Carson III, MD; Mira Katz, PhD; Stanley Lemeshow, PhD; Electra Paskett, PhD, MSPH; Doug Post, PhD; Pat Reagan, PhD; Mack Ruffin IV, MD, MPH (University of Michigan); Pam Salisbury, PhD; Mary Ellen Wewers, PhD, MSN, RN.