Summaries of Independent Scientist (K) Awards

Chan, Evelyn C

Institution: The University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
Grant Title: Health Communication over the Internet
Grant Number: K02 HS11421
Duration: 5 years (2001-2006)
Total Award: $505,300

Project Description: The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to provide preventive health care for colorectal screening.  Personal information from the electronic medical record and educational information about colorectal cancer screening was delivered to patients through a tailored interactive, Internet letter called the NetLet [interNET LETter], at home, work, or at a public library.  The specific aims were to:

1. Develop the NetLet and demonstrate that it can be feasibly implemented with physicians and patients in a primary care practice and city public library system.
2. Conduct a pilot evaluation of the NetLET's effect on adherence to colorectal screening compared to a standard mailed letter to the design of a larger trial.
3. Assess the effect of the NetLET on interest in and knowledge about colorectal cancer screening compared to a standard mailed letter to inform the design of a larger trial.

Career Goals: Dr. Chan is a clinical ethicist, practicing internist, and an Assistant Professor and Director of Biomedical Ethics in Internal Medicine at the University of Texas-Houston.  She serves on the State Prostate Cancer Advisory Committee to the Texas Department of Health and on an advisory committee to Project JOLT at the National Cancer Institute (NCI).  Dr. Chan's research  focuses on informed decisionmaking.

Progress to Date: Dr. Chan completed her K award in 2006.  The project included completion of a feasibility study to inform the development of a full-scale intervention that could be delivered over the internet, by E-mail, to patients in an outpatient primary care clinic.

Highlights and Specific Accomplishments:

• Collaborated with Texas Medical Association, the Physician Oncology Education Program, Texas Cancer Council, and the Baylor College of Medicine Intercultural Cancer Center to develop content for State-wide Web site on prostate cancer screening, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at http://www.baylorcme.org/prostate/.
• Serves on the State Prostate Cancer Advisory Committee.
• Working with State Health Department to disseminate culturally appropriate brochures promoting informed decision making about prostate cancer screening Nation-wide.  Texas, Maryland, Ohio, Wyoming, and Georgia will use the brochures in their prostate cancer screening education programs.
• Serves as consultant on informed decisionmaking for the CDC and Physicians Oncology Education Program.
• Research funded by NCI and the Department of Defense's (DOD) accepted for publication in the following peer-reviewed journals:
  • Journal of General Internal Medicine.
  • American Journal of Public Health.
  • Journal of Community Health.

K-Generated Publications:

Chan ECY, Vernon SW, O'Donnel FT, Ahn C, Greisinger A, Aga D. Informed consent for cancer screening with prostate-specific antigen: How well are men getting the message? American Journal of Public Health 2003; 93:779-85.

Chan ECY, Vernon SW, Haynes MC, O'Donnell FT, Ah C. Physician perspectives on the importance of facts men ought to know about prostate specific antigen testing. Journal of General Internal Medicine 2003;18:350-56.

Chan ECY, Haynes MC, O'Donnell FT, Bachino C, Vernon SW. Cultural sensitivity and informed decision making about prostate cancer screening. Journal of Community Health 2003;28(6):393-405.

Chan ECY, Vernon SW, Ahn C, O'Donnell FT, Greisinger A. Do men know that they have had a prostate specific antigen test? Accuracy of self-reports of testing at two sites. American Journal of Public Health 2004:94:1336-38.

Rimer BK, Briss PA, Zeller PK, Chan E, Woolf S. Informed decision making: What is its role in cancer screening? Cancer 2004;101(5Suppl):1214-28.

Chan ECY. Promoting an ethical approach to screening imaging tests. Journal of the American College of Radiology 2005;2(4):311-20.

Woolf SH, Chan E, Harris R, Braddock Ch, Sheridan SL, Kaplan RM, Krist A, O'Connor A, Tunis S. Promoting informed choice: Transforming healthcare to dispense knowledge. Annals of Internal Medicine 2005;143:293-300.

Weinrich Sp, Fann RS, Powell I, Godley PA, Moul JW, Chodak GW, Chan EC, Hamm R, Taylor KL, Sanggil K, Winrich MD. A decision aid for teaching limitations of prostate cancer screening. UroOncology 2007.

Chan ECY, Barry MJ, Vernon SW, Ahn C. United States physicians and their personal prostate cancer screening practices with prostate specific antigen. Journal of General Internal Medicine 2006;21(3):257-59.

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