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NEWS SERVICES |
NEWS
| For immediate use |
Jan. 29, 2003 -- No. 51 |
Photo Note: To download a photo of Linnan, Bentley and Carlisle, see end of release.
UNC study to examine partnerships with beauty salons to share cancer prevention information
By WENDY TANSON
School of Public Health
CHAPEL HILL -- The effectiveness of using beauty salons to share information about cancer prevention is the subject of a new study being conducted by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health.
The BEAUTY research study – Bringing Education and Understanding to You – will be conducted over a four-year period at 48 salons statewide.
Dr. Laura Linnan, assistant professor of health behavior and health education at the School of Public Health, is principal investigator of the study, which is housed at the university’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and funded by a $1.34 million grant from the American Cancer Society.
"By working with licensed cosmetologists in local beauty salons, our study aims to test several different methods for delivering positive health messages to North Carolina residents, to help promote health and reduce risk of cancer and other leading causes of death," Linnan said. "Specifically, we will address the importance of physical activity, increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, reducing calories from fat, maintaining or achieving a healthy weight and obtaining recommended cancer screenings."
Participating salons will receive an interactive, colorful display containing an array of health information. Salons may also receive health magazines as well as training for cosmetologists.
Co-investigators on the BEAUTY research project, all at UNC’s School of Public Health, are Dr. Alice Ammerman, associate professor, and Dr. Peggy Bentley, associate chair, both of the department of nutrition; Dr. Kelly Evenson, research assistant professor of epidemiology; Dr. Andrea Biddle, associate professor of health policy and administration; and Dr. Kant Bangdiwala, research associate professor of biostatistics. Lineberger’s Veronica Carlisle serves as project director.
The BEAUTY study was developed by Linnan and colleagues after substantial work with beauty salon owners, licensed cosmetologists and local community leaders statewide. "We began planning for this study more than two years ago, and, with help from the BEAUTY Advisory Board, conducted a series of smaller studies that have informed this larger community-based intervention trial," Linnan said. "As a result, this study should be manageable for beauty salon owners to participate in and will give added value to their businesses and relationships with their customers."
Salon recruitment began in fall 2002, and will continue until 48 salons, and a minimum of 55 customers per salon, are enrolled in the study. Salons serving primarily black women from both rural and urban settings will be recruited; studies have shown that these women are at higher risk for cancer mortality than other groups.
"There are more than 11,000 salons in North Carolina alone," Linnan said. "It’s a place that you find in every community, and one in which women talk about everything, including their health.
"Our preliminary data suggests that nearly all cosmetologists report talking with their customers, and 82 percent were specifically interested in talking about health issues. We will draw upon the trusted relationship already established between the cosmetologist and their client to share these cancer prevention messages."
Linnan said some customers visit a salon weekly, while most visit every six to eight weeks. With multiple visits annually and anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours spent together per visit, salon owners and stylists have a unique opportunity to reach many individuals and reinforce health messages with them over time, she said.
The effectiveness of using the salon setting will be assessed through questionnaires completed by customers and cosmetologists before, during and at the end of the study. Linnan and colleagues will assess the impact on individual customers’ health behaviors, as well as any changes to policies or practices in the salon environment itself, such as changes to food choices available at the salon.
"We’re working to identify the best ways to get cancer information to people," Linnan said. "We expect results from this study, like those in our pilot work, to show that creating partnerships with beauty salon owners and licensed cosmetologists is a promising strategy for reducing cancer risk and promoting health."
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Note: Linnan can be reached at (919) 843-8044 or linnan@email.unc.edu. Carlisle can be reached at (888) 265-6188 or veronica_carlisle@med.unc.edu.
UNC School of Public Health contact: Lisa Katz, (919) 966-7467 or lisa_katz@unc.edu
Lineberger center contact: Dianne Shaw, (919) 966-5905 or dgs@med.unc.edu
UNC News Services contact: Deb Saine, (919) 962-8415
