UNC, NC community colleges partner to prevent cancer

As many as half of all cancer deaths can be prevented by not smoking, reducing exposure to smoke, maintaining a healthy weight, and being physically active; and researchers have identified specific programs, also known as evidence-based interventions (EBIs), that help people change these health behaviors.Public health researchers are working with all 58 North Carolina community colleges to identify cancer prevention EBIs for their employees, students and community residents. North Carolina has the third largest community college system in the United States, serving residents of all 100 counties. Because of the system’s broad reach to populations with the greatest cancer-related disparities, the state’s community colleges have high potential as a setting for cancer prevention interventions.

As part of the University Cancer Research Fund’s Health-e-NC program, researchers from UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center are partnering with the state’s community colleges to assess needs and preferences for adopting and implementing EBIs for cancer prevention that are suitable for their students, employees and community residents. Phase I of the study included a survey that was distributed to all campuses.

“We received overwhelming participation in our initial health survey – 100 percent of the state’s community colleges responded,” said Laura Linnan, ScD, CHES, the project’s principal investigator. “And from our previous research, we know that community colleges are wonderful collaborators, so this study will allow us to extend the work we have begun, assess their needs and preferences, and figure out the best ways to tailor EBIs to their campus communities.”

Linnan is professor of health behavior and health education at the UNC public health school.

“The results of this partnership with UNC will provide our colleges with the tools they need to help students, employees and citizens make life changes that will ultimately reduce their risk of cancer,” said Scott Ralls, PhD, president of the N.C. Community College System. “Since our colleges provide the education and training for the majority of North Carolina’s nurses and allied health professionals, it is fitting that they would also be involved in working with UNC to promote healthy lifestyles across our state.”

UNC researchers will share survey results with Ralls and other key community college leaders across the state. As part of Phase II, the researchers also will work with selected community colleges to obtain additional information through interviews with key stakeholders, scans of the physical environment on campus, and discussions to identify key strengths and resources based on an asset-mapping process. Additional funds will be sought from the National Institutes of Health and/or local foundations so that EBIs of greatest benefit to community colleges, as determined by the assessment process, can be delivered.

 

More information about the Health-e-NC program will be available soon on a new website, www.health-e-nc.org.

UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: Ramona DuBose, director of communications, (919) 966-7467 or ramona_dubose@unc.edu.