A team from the University of Guam’s Cancer Research Center will have its data published in the Journal of Health Communication.

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Associate Professor Dr. Lilnabeth Somera said the team’s first main publication has been accepted by the Journal, and could be published as soon as next year.

Somera also said her co-authors include Dr. Kevin Cassel, associate professor for Cancer Prevention and Control Program at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center,  Dr. Hye-ryeon Lee, associate professor for the Department of Communicology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and Grazyna Badowski, associate professor at the College of Natural and Applied Sciences at UOG. 

The article set for publication includes both local and national data from the National Cancer Institute, detailing the habits of how the general public gives and receives health information.

“We’re trying to create models on how health information is processed here on Guam,” Somera said, adding that this new data can help direct future efforts. “If we know some of the attitudes and values in this culture that impact people’s responses then we may be able to come up with more effective messages and develop campaigns for healthier behaviors.”

Rick Moser, program director and research psychologist from the NCI, was invited to UOG by Somera to give a presentation last week on research methods and innovative practices for collecting data. He said although the NCI’s research usually only extends to the 50 states, when other locations such as Puerto Rico or Guam collect their own data, the Institute likes to share and swap information, which yields beneficial for both parties.

“It’s real exciting for me to come here because the researchers at the University are already doing the type of research that we want to support by collecting data at a local level,” Moser said. “This way they can compare with other data at more of a national level. We love to come to places like this and support what they’re doing and collaborate with them and see what we can learn together.”