Development of an African-American role model intervention to increase breast self-examination and mammography.

Minorities and indigent populations have low participation rates in breast cancer education and screening programs, and suffer from higher morbidity and mortality. Attitudes, norms, and values of such populations are best addressed by breast cancer patients of the same race and cultural background who serve as role models. This article describes the development and pilot study of an intervention program using role models as part of a "Witness" presentation. Programs were held in participants' local African-American churches and community centers. The organization of the program was based on an educational model (4MAT) that identified learning styles and brain hemisphere dominance. Preliminary results with 78 African-American women indicate that the program design is effective in reaching low-income, less-educated African-American women who did not believe themselves to be at high risk for breast cancer. Three-month follow-up demonstrated a significant increase in the practice of BSE and 19% had a mammogram.