UOG Cancer Research Center Representatives Present Research Study at American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition
UOG Cancer Research Center Representatives Present Research Study at American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition
UOG Cancer Research Center Representatives Present Research Study at American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition
1/5/2018
For Immediate Release
December 27, 2013
For more information contact:
Angelina G. Mummert, MPA
Research Associate
University of Guam Cancer Research Center
Tel: (671)735-2989
Fax: (671)734-2990
Email: amummert@uguam.uog.edu
UOG Cancer Research Center Representatives Present Research Study at
American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition
American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition
University of Guam Cancer Research Center representatives UOG Adjunct Research Faculty
Dr. Annette David and UOG Student Lawrence Alcairo recently conducted a roundtable
discussion of their research abstract and presentation entitled, “CREATE (Community
Outreach for Action Team) – Guam: Empowering Youth to Drive Tobacco Control Policy”
at the 141
st
Annual American Public Health Association (APHA) Meeting and Exposition in Boston,
Massachusetts in November.
Their abstract was selected among thousands of submitted abstracts for oral presentation
at the APHA meeting.
The roundtable discussion highlighted efforts by the UOG Cancer Research Center (CRC)
community outreach pilot program to identify and better understand reasons for tobacco
use disparities among Chamorro and other Micronesian youth.
The UOG CRC partnered with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Institute
for Global Tobacco Control to map point of sale tobacco advertising in a random sample
of tobacco retailers in Guam, using community-based participatory approaches.
Tobacco use in Guam is the highest in the nation, where approximately one in four
adults report using tobacco (Guam Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey 2012
data).
On Guam, Chamorros have the highest rates in smoking and chewing tobacco.
Dr. David commented, “According to 2011 data from the Youth Risk Factor Survey, Guam’s
youth tobacco use mirror the adult rates, and Chamorro and other Micronesian youth
display the highest rates of both cigarette smoking and chewing tobacco with areca
nut/betel quid.”
Cancer disparities in Guam reflect these disparities in tobacco use and other risk
factors. Among Guam youth, tobacco consumption is highest among Chamorros and other
Micronesians.
These disparities were the reason the UOG CRC studied effective methods to reduce
tobacco use among youth.
During the study, which was conducted in 2011, thirty-two youth and adult volunteers
were trained to perform observational surveys using hand held computers equipped with
Geographic Information system (GIS) technology and use of Photovoice to digitally
document tobacco point of sale advertising.
The researchers wanted to test whether higher exposure to tobacco advertising is one
of the reasons for higher tobacco use rates among Chamorro and other Micronesian youth
on Guam.
“We are grateful for UOG’s leadership in cancer research and for the opportunity to
represent our valuable research work at such a prestigious gathering of health professionals,”
added Dr. David.
The roundtable session also featured youth-led community projects, initiatives, and
research aimed at addressing health disparities in underserved youth communities.
Panelists discussed components of effective youth development programs, the processes
used to engage youth leaders in research and advocacy efforts, and project outcomes.
Dr. David and Mr. Alcairo completed a total of three presentations to an audience
consisting of various public health professional who work with youth on public health
issues who came from Oklahoma, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, New York, India and Nigeria.
According to Dr. David, “There was great interest in the methodology used by the UOG
U54 team, and several requests for copies of the presentation and products were received.
The overall consensus was that the outcomes from the Guam research were significant,
and highlighted the key role of community driven data gathering in stimulating policy
change for better health.”
Mr. Alcairo shared that “The APHA meeting highlighted the accomplishments of public
health professionals and advocates across the globe and he was proud to represent
Guam and its youth, as well as the University of Guam at this important meeting.”
Lawrence is currently in his junior year at the University of Guam and the son of
proud parents, Guam Air National Guard Command Chief Master Sergeant (Ret.) Joseph
and Lilia Alcairo of Yigo.
Shown left to right are Mr. Lawrence Alcairo (UOG Youth Researcher), Ms. Adrienne
Gill (University of North Carolina), and Dr. Annette David (UOG Research Faculty)
at the APHA Poster session in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mr. Lawrence Alcairo, UOG youth researcher, proudly displays UOG’s “Big G” before
presenting at one of the 141
st
Annual APHA roundtable sessions on a UOG/UHCC research study.