ProVisión Eye Health Campaign

Project Dates: October 1, 2004 – May 31, 2005

• Background
• Household Survey
• Formative Research
• Communcation Materials
• Press Releases
• Contact

Background

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for Communication Programs (CCP) is working with the Wilmer Eye Institute and the Hispanic Apostolate (HA) to develop an eye health communication strategy for Latinos in Baltimore City. The goal of the strategy is to increase diabetic eye disease knowledge and care-seeking behaviors. As part of this effort, CCP assisted in the development and implementation of the project’s household survey, designed and carried out qualitative formative research, designed and produced materials for interviewers and survey participants, and began to design the communication campaign strategy.

Household Survey

CCP actively participated in the development and implementation of the household survey carried out in predominantly Latino areas of Baltimore City. Specifically, CCP:

• Prepared a questionnaire module on the information-seeking behaviors of the intended audience.
• Edited the Spanish version of the questionnaire.
• Developed interpersonal communication checklist for interviewers.
• Trained interviewers in the application of the information-seeking module.
• Assisted in training and improving interviewer skills prior to launch of survey.
• Provided feedback to interviewers during the survey field test.
• Refined knowledge, attitude, behavior, and self-efficacy questions based on the results of the field test.

Formative Research

As part of the formative research process, CCP carried out interviews with community leaders and facilitated focus group discussions (FGDs) with community members. Specifically, CCP:

• Developed in-depth interview questionnaire for community leaders.
• Carried out interviews with community leaders
• Analyzed results of interviews with community leaders.
• Developed a qualitative research protocol.
• Developed and tested a FGD guide to collect additional data on knowledge, attitudes, and behavior related to the health system, diabetes, and diabetic eye disease.
• Coordinated participant enrollment with HA.
• Facilitated six FGDs with diabetic and non-diabetic men and women over the age of 25.
• Transcribed FGD tapes and notes.
• Analyzed FGDs and prepared a report on the results of the analysis.
• Translated results report from Spanish into English.

Communication Materials

Communication materials were developed for the launch and implementation of the household survey. CCP specifically:

• Designed logo and project name, including pre-testing with community members and refining.
• Developed intranet site to post important project documents.
• Wrote and disseminated press release which resulted in coverage in Latino community media and in the major Baltimore daily newspaper.
• Designed and produced Spanish and English posters announcing launch of the survey, postcards with survey contact information, flyers with health center contact information, identification badges, and equipment bags for interviewers.
• Surveyed existing bilingual diabetes print materials and identified informational pamphlets for survey participants.
• Developed readiness checklist for interviewers.

Press Releases

• CUIDAR LA VISTA TOMA CORAZÓN: Universidad Johns Hopkins y Catholic Charities Lanzan Nueva Campaña para Prevenir Enfermedades Diabéticas del Ojo - February 26, 2007 (English)

• BALTIMORE LUCHA POR LA VISTA: Empresas en Baltimore Se Unen Para Combatir la Enfermedad Diabética de los Ojos - January 24, 2006 (English)

• Noche Latina este sábado 13 de agosto en Camdem Yards: Este evento incluirá mensajes sobre la salud de los ojos para los hispanos - August 11, 2005 (English)

• Se lanza proyecto en Baltimore para proteger la visión de Latinos con diabetes - November 22, 2004 (English)

Contact

Marcela Aguilar
Email: maguilar@jhuccp.org