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Feasibility Study of Engaging Barbershops for Prostate Cancer Education in Rural African-American Communities

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Abstract

The barbershop is a promising setting where African-American men might receive information and education about prostate cancer. In this study, we assessed the feasibility of engaging rural barbershops as venues for barbers to deliver a prostate cancer education intervention to increase informed decision-making for prostate cancer screening among customers. Twelve barbershops were recruited from two separate micropolitan areas in Georgia as intervention and control sites. Structured interviews were conducted with 11 barbers in both sites about customer characteristics as well as their willingness to participate in the study. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed for analysis. In the intervention site, six barbers completed a survey and a pre-/posttest prostate cancer knowledge instrument following training classes. Barbers reported a wide average range of customers served per week (50 to 300). African-American men made up an average of 87 % of customers. Barbers thought prostate cancer was an important discussion topic, felt they would be comfortable discussing it, and supported the participation of their barbershop in the study. For intervention group barbers, there was a statistically significant difference between the average pretest knowledge score of 72 % (mean 12.2, SD = 3.2) and the posttest knowledge score of 89 % (mean 15.2, SD = 1.1) (P = 0.03) on the 17-item prostate cancer knowledge instrument. Based on the multiple interactions with the barbers, there was high receptivity to the topic and consensus about the importance of addressing prostate cancer with their customers. Rural barbershops represent feasible venues for delivering a prostate cancer education intervention.

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Acknowledgments

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities under award number P20MD006901. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. We acknowledge Mr. Andre’ Scott for his contribution in conducting some of the preliminary barber interviews. A prior version of this paper was presented at the International Cancer Education Conference, Clearwater, FL, October 19, 2014. The authors would like to thank the barbers for participating in the research study.

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Correspondence to John S. Luque.

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Luque, J.S., Roy, S., Tarasenko, Y.N. et al. Feasibility Study of Engaging Barbershops for Prostate Cancer Education in Rural African-American Communities. J Canc Educ 30, 623–628 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-014-0739-2

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