Wednesday, November 13, 2002

WILMINGTON, NC – Using a $20,000 grant from the Cape Fear Memorial Foundation, the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington plans to educate men about prostate cancer.

Tracy Moore, an adult/gerontologic nurse practitioner, said increased efforts are needed to inform undereducated men about early detection methods for prostate cancer. Moore, who works at the Navassa 5th District Rural Health Clinic that is managed by the UNCW School of Nursing, wrote the grant to request funding for the “Brother to Brother Prostate Cancer Health Literacy Initiative for African-American Men.”

Citing statistics from the American Cancer Society, Moore said prostate cancer is a major health threat, especially among the African-American community.

“Although prostate cancer is very curable in African-American men, it is typically diagnosed later than it is in white men,” said Moore. “This grant will fund the development of a culturally sensitive pamphlet on early detection.”

Moore said she is working with the Cape Fear Literacy Council to design material to meet the needs of clients who have at least a third-grade reading level. When the pamphlet is complete, Moore will recruit 90 men in three rural communities in Brunswick and Columbus counties to serve as peer educators to help inform their “brothers” about the need for early screening for prostate cancer.

Peer educators will receive free digital rectal exams and prostate specific antigen testing through Brunswick County and Columbus County Memorial hospitals.

For more information, contact Ms. Moore at 910/383-6981.