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This study examined the influence of masculinity on the coping mechanisms of undergraduate Black men. Black male college students were recruited from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and a Predominately White Institution (PWI) and asked to complete a survey. Survey results ( N = 162) showed most Black college men identify with mainstream society or Black masculinity. Results also showed that the type of masculinity identified does determine whether a positive or negative relationship exists with the type of coping method used. In addition, the type of masculinity identified with was determined by the campus (HBCU, PWI) participants attended. Future research directions are discussed.

This article describes how a culturally sensitive masculinity scale was developed for Black men using qualitative data. Data came from in-depth interviews ( N = 13) and focus groups ( n = 4) with 46 undergraduate Black males at two universities (Historically Black College and University and Predominately White Institution) in the Southeastern United States. The resulting Masculinity Inventory Scale (MIS) items were developed using direct quotes from the data. The scale was completed by 164 participants as one part of a self-administered survey. Factor analysis showed that five subscales of masculinity exist for Black men: Mainstream society, Black masculinity, Primary group, Mainstream society/Black masculinity, and Primary/peer group. Implications for future research in the area of masculinity and Black men are discussed.

Abstract Background Peru has high cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates compared to other Andean countries. Therefore, partnerships between governmental and international organizations have targeted rural areas of Peru to receive cervical cancer screening via outreach campaigns. Previous studies have found a relationship between a person's social networks and cancer screening behaviors. Screening outreach campaigns conducted by the nonprofit organization CerviCusco created an opportunity for a social network study to examine cervical cancer screening history and social network characteristics in a rural indigenous community that participated in these campaigns in 2012 and 2013. The aim of this study was to explore social network characteristics in this community related to receipt of cervical cancer screening following the campaigns. Methods An egocentric social network questionnaire was used to collect cross-sectional network data on community participants. Each survey participant (ego) was asked to name six other women they knew (alters) and identify the nature of their relationship or tie (family, friend, neighbor, other), residential closeness (within 5 km), length of time known, frequency of communication, topics of conversation, and whether they lent money to the person, provided childcare or helped with transportation. In addition, each participant was asked to report the nature of the relationship between all alters identified (e.g., friend, family, or neighbor). Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to explore the relationship between Pap test receipt at the CerviCusco outreach screening campaigns and social network characteristics. Results Bivariate results found significant differences in percentage of alter composition for neighbors and family, and for mean number of years known, mean density, and mean degree centrality between women who had received a Pap test ( n = 19) compared to those who had not ( n = 50) ( p 's < 0.05). The final logistic regression model was statistically significant (χ2 (2) = 20.911, p < .001). The model included the variables for percentage of family alter composition and mean density, and it explained 37.8 % (Nagelkerke R 2 ) of the variance in Pap test receipt, correctly classifying 78.3 % of cases. Those women with higher percentages of family alter composition and higher mean density in their ego networks were less likely to have received a Pap test at the CerviCusco campaigns. Conclusions According to this exploratory study, female neighbors more than family members may have provided an .

John S Luque,1 Jonathan N Maupin,2 Daron G Ferris,3,4 Wendy S Guevara Condorhuaman4 1Department of Public Health Sciences, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 2School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA; 4CerviCusco, Cusco, Peru Background: Peru is characterized by high cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates. The country also experiences significant gaps in quality cervical cancer screening coverage for the population.Objective: This descriptive mixed methods study conducted in Cusco, Peru, aimed to assess the attitudes and perceptions of medical staff, health care workers, and patients toward a cervical cancer screening program that included both clinic-based and community outreach services conducted by a nongovernmental organization clinic (CerviCusco). The study also explored patient knowledge and attitudes around cervical cancer and about the human papillomavirus (HPV) to inform patient education efforts.Methods: The study employed structured interviews with key informants (n=16) primarily from CerviCusco, which provides cervical cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment services, and surveys with a sample of patients (n=30) receiving services at the clinic and at screening campaigns.Results: The majority of key informant medical staff participants felt that the general public had a very negative view of government health services. One theme running throughout the interviews was the perception that the general population lacked a culture of preventive health care and would wait until symptoms were severe before seeking treatment. Regarding services that were received by patients at CerviCusco, the participants responded that the prices were reasonable and more affordable than some private clinics. Patients attending the rural health campaigns liked that the services were free and of good quality.Conclusion: CerviCusco has demonstrated its capacity to provide screening outreach campaigns to populations who had not previously had access to liquid-based cytology services. The finding that patients had generally low levels of knowledge about cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine prompted the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate educational and promotional materials to improve the educational component of the periodic campaigns conducted primarily in rural areas of Andean Peru. Keywords: Pap test, rapid assessment, global health, screening programs, outreach, South America

BACKGROUND: Florida became the first state in the U.S. South to legalize the use of medical marijuana to treat a variety of health conditions including chronic pain, epilepsy, and spasticity symptoms from multiple sclerosis. While there are over 200,000 medical marijuana patients in Florida, there remain financial, psychological, and insurance coverage barriers which reduce access for many patients. PURPOSE: This scoping review, with a focus on state health policy, first describes some clinical studies examining the therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana. Next, there is a discussion of the Florida regulatory environment and major legislation. Also, the review describes how the current Florida policy landscape presents challenges for physicians and patients. METHODS: A scoping review of the literature was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar using the search terms, "medical marijuana" and "medical cannabis" to identify research articles, newspaper reports, and government documents. The purpose of the review was to identify research investigating the therapeutic efficacy of medical marijuana and state policies affecting physician practice. RESULTS: The review concluded there was general scientific consensus of therapeutic benefits for patients, especially for chronic pain, from the use of medical marijuana. The review also identified several barriers for physicians and patients around cost, stigma, and lack of insurance coverage which constrains use and access. DISCUSSION: The review discusses several directions for future medical marijuana policy and research with the aim to improve therapeutic benefits for Florida patients.

Latinas have higher cervical cancer age‐adjusted incidence and mortality rates, and present with more advanced disease compared to non‐Latino whites. This study used a cross‐sectional mixed methods survey design, exploring knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding the human papillomavirus (HPV), the HPV vaccine, and cervical cancer screening with four groups of women (Mexican, Honduran, Puerto Rican, Anglo‐American; n= 80) attending low‐income health clinics along with one group of Latina health care workers (n= 17). Data analyses included univariate frequency distributions and one‐way ANOVA tests for quantitative data, thematic and content analysis for qualitative data, and cultural consensus analysis using the covariance method to compare groups. Results indicate overall cultural consensus for the five subgroups for both the agree/disagree questions and rankings on cervical cancer risk factors. However, differences were found between Latina women compared to Anglo‐American patients and health care clinic workers around birth control practices as possible causal factors for cervical cancer. Other findings suggested greater awareness of HPV and the HPV vaccine among Anglo‐American and Puerto Rican women compared to Mexican and Honduran women. Mexican and Honduran women were less likely to be aware of HPV and the HPV vaccine, and more likely to be uninsured and without a regular health care provider. Results point to the need to assess knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs in specific subgroups experiencing cervical cancer disparities to identify target areas for health education. Study findings will be used to inform the development and pilot testing of health education curriculum modules for cervical cancer prevention.

The Tampa Bay Community Cancer Network (TBCCN) is one of the Community Network Program sites funded (2005–10) by the National Cancer Institute's Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities. TBCCN was tasked to form a sustainable, community‐based partnership network focused on the goal of reducing cancer health disparities among racial–ethnic minority and medically underserved populations. This article reports evaluation outcome results from a social network analysis and discusses the varying TBCCN partner roles—in education, training, and research—over a span of three years (2007–09). The network analysis included 20 local community partner organizations covering a tricounty area in Southwest Florida. In addition, multiple externally funded, community‐based participatory research pilot projects with community–academic partners have either been completed or are currently in progress, covering research topics including culturally targeted colorectal and prostate cancer screening education, patient navigation focused on preventing cervical cancer in rural Latinas, and community perceptions of biobanking. The social network analysis identified a trend toward increased network decentralization based on betweenness centrality and overall increase in number of linkages, suggesting network sustainability. Degree centrality, trust, and multiplexity exhibited stability over the three‐year time period. These results suggest increased interaction and interdependence among partner organizations and less dependence on the cancer center. Social network analysis enabled us to quantitatively evaluate partnership network functioning of TBCCN in terms of network structure and information and resources flows, which are integral to understanding effective coalition practice based on Community Coalition Action Theory (

Butterfoss and Kegler 2009

). Sharing the results of the social network analysis with the partnership network is an important component of our coalition building efforts. A comprehensive baseline needs assessment for the next five‐year funding phase (2010–15) of TBCCN Community Networks Program Centers (CNP Center) is under way to further evaluate the growth and sustainability of the partnership network, with an emphasis on community‐based intervention research that takes into account culture and literacy.

<p>Hispanic women suffer disproportionately from cervical cancer incidence and mortal­ity compared with non-Hispanic Whites in the United States. Peer-led health education and coaching via charlas (talking circles) may improve cervical cancer screening and early detection rates among specific sub-groups such as farmworker communities. This pilot study sought to collect preliminary evaluation data about the feasibility of implementing a promotora-led cervical can­cer education intervention among women from a farmworker community. The study took place between April 2014 and Novem­ber 2014. Created based on an established network (Tampa Bay Community Cancer Network, TBCCN), in partnership with a local farmworker organization (Farmwork­ers Self-Help, Inc.), the project entailed refinement of a curriculum guide including Spanish-language educational resources (teaching cards). Social Cognitive Theory and the Health Belief Model provided the conceptual framework for the study. Six women from the farmworker community helped to refine the intervention and were trained as promotoras. They successfully de­livered the program via charlas to a total of 60 participants who completed baseline and post-intervention measures on knowledge (cervical cancer/HPV), beliefs, self-efficacy, and intentions. Findings demonstrated gains in knowledge and self-efficacy among charla participants (P&lt;.0001), and support the promise of a community-driven intervention that is delivered by promotoras who use their cultural knowledge and trustworthiness to educate women about cancer screening practices. Results also add to the literature on the use of a charla approach for cancer prevention education within a farmworker community to prompt discussions about health. Future research should evaluate peer-led programs on a larger scale and among other at-risk groups in other commu­nity settings.</p><p><em>Ethn Dis</em>.2018;28(3):169-176; doi:10.18865/ed.28.3.169.</p>