Minority Health Institute

Pilot Research Projects Core

Goals

The pilot research component of the Center is designed to develop an administrative infrastructure that will support minority health research as well as engage in at least two pilot studies. Specifically, this core is designed to accomplish the following objectives:

Design and implement an organizational structure needed to conduct research effectively.
Carryout two distinctive pilot studies in two areas of minority health disparities, including research in diabetes among African-American adolescents and breast cancer among African-American women.

Pilot Research Project 1

"Identification of at risk African-American adolescents for type 2 diabetes and the role of screening in early detection"

Principal Investigator: Martha Eborall, Ph.D.

Research Objectives

This study is designed to accomplish the following objectives:

To identify at risk African-American adolescents in southern West Virginia for type 2 diabetes.
To identify risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes among African American adolescents in southern West Virginia.
To examine the role of dietary fat in the occurrence of type 2 diabetes among African American adolescents in southern West Virginia.
To examine factors associated enhancing awareness of type 2 diabetes among African-American adolescents in southern West Virginia.
To examine the role of frequent blood glucose testing in early detection of type 2 diabetes among African-American adolescents in southern West Virginia.

Future research objectives:

Investigate the effect of sedentary lifestyle on risk of type 2 diabetes in African-Americans.
Investigate other factors such as genetics that contribute to the high incidence of type 2 diabetes in African-Americans.
Develop community education programs on the disease for African-Americans statewide.

Pilot Research Project 2

"Socio-cultural Determinants of Utilization of Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention Services among African-American Women in Southern West Virginia"

Principal Investigator: Anthony T. Woart, Ph.D., MBA

Research Objectives

The problem to be addressed in this study is the determination of socio-cultural factors related to the utilization of breast cancer preventive services among African-American women in southern West Virginia. Specifically this research is designed to examine: (1) the extent of utilization of breast cancer preventive services (mammogram screening, self-breast examination, and clinical examination) among African-American women in Southern West Virginia, (2) determination of socio-cultural variable that account for variance in the utilization pattern of breast cancer preventive services among African-American women in southern West Virginia, and (3) the difference between urban and rural African-American women in the utilization of breast cancer preventive services in southern West Virginia.

Pilot Research Projects Core

Administration