Providing Latino Families with Information and Skills in Coping

with Cancer and Caregiving

Un Abrazo Para La Familia

Lorena VerdugoCommunity Health Advisor

Catherine Marshall, PhD, Francisco A. R. García, MD, MPH

• Recruit families in need of support and teach them how to cope with the effects of cancer

• Design community-based interventions for families experiencing cancer-related stress.

Objectives

•10 low-income families interviewed

•7 families had a family member with breast cancer

•8 out 10 families were Hispanic

BackgroundPilot Research

Family Research Participants

FAMILYID

Family10

Family 9

Family 8

Family 7

Family 6

Family 5

Family 4

Family 3

Family 2

Family 1

Co

un

t

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

.5

0.0

Female Relative

Friend/Caregiver

Granddaughter

Daughter

Sister-in-law

Sister

Mother

Families struggled with: • Skills necessary to cope with Cancer• Dealing with the survivor’s depression• Financial help• Family stress

Pilot Results

Un Abrazo Para la Familia

Recruitment

• Display Board• Program Flyer• Health Fairs• Schools • Parent Groups• Churches• Cancer Clinics• Contact forms

Portable Display Board

Next StepDeveloped Intervention

Curriculum

Program Description• 3 Classes (English or Spanish)

• Designed for individual families

• Classes held at a place and time convenient to each family.

•Skills with coping and caregiving

•Understanding Depression

•Problems Solving

•Breast Cancer Risk Information

•Emotional Support

Content of 3 Hour Class

• Served 61 families

• 99% Hispanic

• 3 Males

Results- Year 1

Results-Year 2

People Served So Far

• 61 Families

• 100% Hispanic

• 100% FemaleDecember 1December 1stst, 2011, 2011

• Two, 1 hour and 30 min sessions is better for families

• Contact families before each session

• 3 Families per session.

Lessons Learned

What Participants Say

““I learned how to use my knowledge to face this I learned how to use my knowledge to face this situation”situation” “Very important work, one tends to ignore lots of things that we really need to face, you helped us” “Very happy about these classes,

very important for the community”

Thank You!

Catherine Marshall, Ph.D. Lorena Verdugo, Community Health Advisor