Class of 2012 Abstract / Specific Aims: The purpose of this study is to assess rural community members in Cochise County, Arizona, to determine if healthcare screenings and informational sessions are desired by the community members for chronic disease states, and from which healthcare providers the community members prefer to obtain these services. Identify which health professional rural members are most likely to seek for healthcare screening. Identify which health professional rural members are most likely to seek for healthcare informational sessions. Determine if rural community members are willing to pay for healthcare screening and informational sessions. Methods: This descriptive study obtained data through 350 questionnaires distributed during selected Cochise County community events in late 2011. Main Results: 341 surveys were completed. The majority of results favored physicians with 47.7% of the people stating they would very likely attend a health care screening conducted by a physician. 34.5% responded they would very likely attend an informational session conducted by a physician. Of the respondents willing to pay for health screenings, 63.9% would pay $30 or less. 70.9% stated they would not be willing to pay for an informational session. However, the majority of participants, 61.3%, indicated they would utilize pharmacists for OTC questions. Regarding questions about prescription medications, 43.4% would go to pharmacists, and similarly, 44% indicated they use physicians. Conclusions: As seen from the results, pharmacists are underutilized by rural community members; except for OTC questions. Respondents with higher levels of education were also more likely to prefer and attend events held by pharmacists.

Class of 2012 Abstract / Specific Aims: The purpose of this study is to assess rural community members in Cochise County, Arizona, to determine if healthcare screenings and informational sessions are desired by the community members for chronic disease states, and from which healthcare providers the community members prefer to obtain these services. Identify which health professional rural members are most likely to seek for healthcare screening. Identify which health professional rural members are most likely to seek for healthcare informational sessions. Determine if rural community members are willing to pay for healthcare screening and informational sessions. Methods: This descriptive study obtained data through 350 questionnaires distributed during selected Cochise County community events in late 2011. Main Results: 341 surveys were completed. The majority of results favored physicians with 47.7% of the people stating they would very likely attend a health care screening conducted by a physician. 34.5% responded they would very likely attend an informational session conducted by a physician. Of the respondents willing to pay for health screenings, 63.9% would pay $30 or less. 70.9% stated they would not be willing to pay for an informational session. However, the majority of participants, 61.3%, indicated they would utilize pharmacists for OTC questions. Regarding questions about prescription medications, 43.4% would go to pharmacists, and similarly, 44% indicated they use physicians. Conclusions: As seen from the results, pharmacists are underutilized by rural community members; except for OTC questions. Respondents with higher levels of education were also more likely to prefer and attend events held by pharmacists.

Free cervical cancer screening services are provided in Malawi’s public healthcare institutionssince 1999. Few women aged 42 and older, utilise these services. Cervical cancer continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality among this group of women. Structured interviews were conducted with 381 women who attended three healthcare centers in Blantyre and semi-structured interviews with 14 nurse/midwives working at the same centers. The results for both phases arepresented within the Health Belief Model’s constructs. Phase 1 revealed that women had low levels of perceived susceptibility to cervical cancer. Although the interviewed women perceived cervical cancer to be a serious condition, they did not regard themselves to be at risk of suffering from cervical cancer. Knowledge that cervical cancer screening could detect this cancer at an early stage, embarrassment, stigma, social support, financial costs, traditional practices and available sources of information, influenced women’s intentions to be screened for cervical cancer. In phase 2, the nurse/midwives indicated that Malawian women lacked information about cervical cancer, available screening tests and the purpose of such screening.These women perceived cervical canceras being incurable and linked to witchcraft. Women’s utilisation of cervical screening services was hampered by barriers relating to healthcare institutions, women themselves and nurse/midwives. Local radio and television broadcasts, friends and nurse/midwives motivated individual women to use these screening services.Women preferred receiving information about cervical cancer screening during community activities. Health education should be intensified, nurse/midwives should be more empathetic, clinic days and hours should be extended. Misconceptions should be addressed and more service providers should be trained. This would enable more Malawian women to use cervical screening services, enhancing early detection and treatment of cervical cancer and reducing the morbidity and mortality statistics related to this condition in Malawi. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Free cervical cancer screening services are provided in Malawi’s public healthcare institutionssince 1999. Few women aged 42 and older, utilise these services. Cervical cancer continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality among this group of women. Structured interviews were conducted with 381 women who attended three healthcare centers in Blantyre and semi-structured interviews with 14 nurse/midwives working at the same centers. The results for both phases arepresented within the Health Belief Model’s constructs. Phase 1 revealed that women had low levels of perceived susceptibility to cervical cancer. Although the interviewed women perceived cervical cancer to be a serious condition, they did not regard themselves to be at risk of suffering from cervical cancer. Knowledge that cervical cancer screening could detect this cancer at an early stage, embarrassment, stigma, social support, financial costs, traditional practices and available sources of information, influenced women’s intentions to be screened for cervical cancer. In phase 2, the nurse/midwives indicated that Malawian women lacked information about cervical cancer, available screening tests and the purpose of such screening.These women perceived cervical canceras being incurable and linked to witchcraft. Women’s utilisation of cervical screening services was hampered by barriers relating to healthcare institutions, women themselves and nurse/midwives. Local radio and television broadcasts, friends and nurse/midwives motivated individual women to use these screening services.Women preferred receiving information about cervical cancer screening during community activities. Health education should be intensified, nurse/midwives should be more empathetic, clinic days and hours should be extended. Misconceptions should be addressed and more service providers should be trained. This would enable more Malawian women to use cervical screening services, enhancing early detection and treatment of cervical cancer and reducing the morbidity and mortality statistics related to this condition in Malawi. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)