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Vital Signs

Speakers Kit Promotes Lung Health in Minorities

As lung disease-related deaths continue to rise in the United States, so do the number of racial and ethnic minorities affected by this serious health problem—a number that is disproportionately higher than for non-minorities. To help nurses and other health professionals educate African-American, Hispanic and other minority communities about the importance of lung health, the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) has developed an online speakers kit that can be downloaded from the ACCP’s Web site at www.chestnet.org/minorities.

The Speakers Kit on Lung Health in Minorities is designed to help people learn how to maintain healthy lungs, identify lung diseases early and obtain the appropriate care for lung problems (including determining when it is necessary to consult with a lung specialist). The kit offers a basic understanding of the lungs’ critical function and how it can be affected by untreated lung disease.

To help speakers create an effective presentation, the kit includes 53 slides on topics such as asthma, immunizations, protecting lungs from injury and tips on how to talk to doctors. There are also slides that offer information on the dangers of tobacco use and how to quit smoking. In a 1995 study, the National Center for Health Statistics found that a significant disparity exists between the numbers of black and white smokers. A related 1997 study found that of all black males who died of lung disease, 65% of the deaths were smoking-related, compared to only 60% for white men.

“By using the speakers kit, health professionals can help us deliver a strong message about the importance of lung health in minorities,” says Dr. LeRoy Graham, FCCP, chair of the ACCP NetWork on Cultural Diversity in Medicine. “Too often, symptoms are left untreated due to a lack of information. Raising awareness about lung health through community education is another meaningful way physicians can save lives.”

The Speakers Kit on Lung Health in Minorities was created by the ACCP NetWork on Cultural Diversity in Medicine with support from Merck and Co., Inc. The ACCP also maintains several other special interest NetWorks that can provide nurses with education, networking opportunities, informational resources and forums for interacting with other health care professionals.

For more information, contact Sydney Parker, PhD, at sparker@chestnet.org or visit the ACCP’s Web site.