title: Marketing a Healthy Mind, Body, and Soul: An Analysis of How African American Men View the Church as a Social Marketer and Health Promoter of Colorectal Cancer Risk and Prevention.
abstract: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranks colorectal cancer (CRC) as the third most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in the United States; African American (AA) men are at even greater risk. The present study was from a larger study that investigates the church's role as a social marketer of CRC risk and prevention messages, and whether religiously targeted and tailored health promotion materials will influence screening outcome. We used an integrated theoretical approach to explore participants' perceptions of CRC risk and prevention and how promotion messages should be developed and socially marketed by the church. Six focus groups were conducted with men from predominately AA churches in the Midwest. Themes from focus group discussions showed participants lacked knowledge about CRC, feared cancer diagnosis, and feared the procedure for screening. Roles of masculinity and the mistrust of physicians were also emergent themes. Participants did perceive the church as a trusted marketer of CRC but believed that promotional materials should be cosponsored and codeveloped by reputable health organizations. Employing the church as a social marketer of CRC screening promotion materials may be useful in guiding health promotions and addressing barriers that are distinct among African American men.
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA clumpkins@kumc.edu.
authors.forename: Crystal Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lumpkins
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vanchy
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Tamara A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Daley
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ndikum-Moffer
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
authors.forename: K Allen
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Greiner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas; D008297:Male; D054526:Men's Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D008923:Missouri; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D040241:Social Marketing
keywords: African American; cancer prevention; church-based health promotion; community-based participatory research; health communications; health disparities; religion and health; social marketing; tailored or targeted interventions; theory of planned behavior