Health Disparities Program
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The health disparities program within the Division of Health Care Policy and Research aims at
developing studies addressing differences in all areas of health care and achieving health equity. Our program is
associated to the national Academy for Health Equity (
www.academyforhealthequity.org) and follows the principles of the Brazilian educator Paulo Freire to empower
communities within a participatory action research model.
Rocky Mountain Health Equity Academy
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Faculty at the Division of Health Care Policy and Research and the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Colorado Denver joined forces with the Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) to create the Rocky Mountain Health Equity Academy (the Academy). Designed to help local communities address self identified health disparities, the Academy will work with community-based organizations (CBOs) to empower them to obtain the financial resources needed to develop, implement, and evaluate sustainable projects aimed at reducing disparities in heart disease, cancer, diabetes and lung disease. CBOs are uniquely positioned to identify and develop programs that can effectively address disparities in their communities. Academicians know how to write grants and scientifically evaluate programs. Why not bring these two together? The Academy will provide training to help CBOs translate their knowledge and expertise into well crafted proposals targeting specific funds.
The Academy will conduct three tailored trainings per year on how to build solid proposals and navigate the competitive grant application process. The trainings will be developed in a participatory process, using Freire's philosophy of adult learning, in which both student and teacher bring complementary knowledge to the learning environment. Each training will have 1- 2 modules chosen out of the following: 1)Health Disparities Data In Your Region; 2) Grant Writing; 3) Community assessment, Resource Assessment & Development; 4)Cultural Competence, and 5)Program Evaluation and Evidence-Based Interventions (includes Community Involvement, Coalition Building). The modules will be delivered via the five AHECs statewide and will involve three phases: 1) The assessment phase: which focuses on documenting information about local CBOs and choosing and tailoring the modules to the region; 2) The workshop phase: in which tailored modules will be offered in 1-day workshops; 3) The consulting phase: during which each CBO will work with the Academy and the AHEC partner to consult and refine their grant application. CBOs should end the 3-phase training with a grant application draft.
Participating UC Denver faculty include Angela Sauaia, MD, PhD (Director); Judy Baxter, MA; Elaine Belansky, PhD; and Jack Westfall, MD plus all Colorado AHECs (http://www2.uchsc.edu/ahec/). If you want more information, please contact the AHEC in your area or the Project Coordinator Jennifer McIntyre at jennifer.mcintyre@ucdenver.edu to sign up for the next training!
Practicum Proposal: The Academy will have opportunities for practicum, thesis, and mentored scholarly activity. Please, open the attached document for a description. Practicum Proposal (.pdf)
Invitation: if your organization is interested in obtaining funds for reducing health disparities, then open the attached document for more information about this coaching and training opportunity!. Invitation (.pdf)
UCD-School of Medicine Cultural Competence Curriculum (UCD-SOM CCC)
The UCD-SOM CCC, another Health Equality Initiative program funded by The Colorado Trust has three components: 1) 4-year training integrated to courses and internships across the entire medical program; 2) cross cultural workshops for CU faculty and providers in the community (in collaboration with STeP , CCSP, and other organizations); and 3) evaluation and documentation. The CCC is based on the overriding principle that the main focus of cultural competence training in medical schools MUST BE the achievement of health equality. It utilizes the following three main themes: 1) addressing the three levels of racism and discrimination: institutional, personally mediated, and internalized; 2) vigorously fighting stereotypes; and 3) avoiding seggregation of cultural competence training on separate sessions by integrating it into basic and clinical content. This very rewarding process, however, is not without its challenges. Dr. Angela Sauaia serves as its Director. For more information on its content and learning objectives, please click on one of the following items:
- The CCC Description (.pdf)
- A Course Guideline (.xls)
- A PowerPoint Presentation (.pdf)
- A CCC Training Manual 2007 (.pdf)
Tepeyac Project (1999-present)
The Tepeyac Project is a federally funded project aiming at improving
breast cancer screening through annual mammograms among Latinas. The Colorado Foundation for Medical
Care, the University of Colorado and La Clínica Tepeyac formed a partnership to use Catholic churches
as a vehicle for health education. In the Phase I of the project (1999-2002), 150 churches across
Colorado displayed educational materials and published messages in their bulletins while four churches
in Denver received, in addition, visits by Promotoras trained by La Clínica Tepeyac who educated
women on an one-on-one basis. The educational intervention by Promotoras resulted in a dramatic
improvement in mammography rates among Latinas. The Phase II of the project (2002-2005) where,
in addition to continuing the previously described activities, we have added the "Teach the Model"
intervention. The Teach the Model intervention attempts to reproduce the Promotora model by
recruiting volunteers in six communities accross Colorado to receive training at La Clínica
Tepeyac on how to initiate health education projects in their communities.
A planning guide for church-based health promotion
interventions for Latinos by Angela Sauaia, MD, PhD.
Click on this link for this document in Adobe (.pdf) format
Click on this link for this document in MS Word (.doc) format
Appendix: Tepeyac Project Focus Groups Report by E. Borrayo, PhD
Click on this link for this document in Adobe (.pdf) format
Click on this link for this document in MS Word (.doc) format
Templates of Letters
Click on this link for this document in Adobe (.pdf) format
Click on this link for this document in MS Word (.doc) format
For templates of bilingual breast cancer educational materials, click on the following links.
Breast Cancer Information in Spanish
Breast Cancer Information in English
Do it for yourself, Do it for your family -
Hágalo por usted, Hágalo por su familia.
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Pain Management Program
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ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: 1) to evaluate pain management satisfaction among elderly postoperative patients;
2) to define pain management strategies documented in the medical record that predict pain
treatment satisfaction.
DESIGN: Prospective cohort.
SETTING: Eight urban hospitals.
PARTICIPANTS: 322 post-surgical patients aged 65 and older.
MEASUREMENTS: Pain management satisfaction in the first 24 hours postoperation was scored
(PatScore) using a survey. Pain management was evaluated both by patient survey and by
abstracting the patient's medical record (MR). The correlation between the PatScore and the
MR variables was assessed using multiple regression. RESULTS: 62% patients experienced severe
postoperative pain, yet 87% reported being satisfied with the pain management. The mean
PatScore was 59.3 + 10.8, (range 10.6 - 84.3; potential range 0-100) with higher scores representing
higher satisfaction. The regression model using MR variables explained 14% of the PatScore variation.
The worst pain intensity in the first 24 hours postoperation documented in the MR was the most powerful
predictor of a low PatScore. Other predictors associated with a higher PatScore were: younger age;
male gender; number of educational topics discussed preoperatively; surgical procedure (orthopedic
patients were less satisfied than laparotomy and thoracotomy patients); less time in recovery room;
analgesic given through oral route; and morphine (compared to other opioids).
CONCLUSION: Pain among elderly surgical patients remains undermanaged. Simple strategies such as
emphasizing preoperative education may have a large impact in pain management. The study provides
a validated patient satisfaction score and a MR instrument to assist in monitoring pain management quality.
Journal Articles:
Sauaia A, Min SJ, Leber C, Erbacher K, Abrams F, Fink R, Parks P. Postoperative Pain Management: Correlation between adherence to treatment guidelines and patient perceptions among elderly patients. JAGS, 53: 274-82, 2005.
Downloadable Pain Management Tools:
Pain Management Medical Record Abstraction Tool files:
Pain Management Tool:
Word Document
Pain Management Dictionary:
Word Document
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