About the Initiative
Dr. Wael Sakr, MD, professor of Pathology and Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Detroit Medical Center, translated and back-translated into Arabic the plain language decision aid for men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer. 

Arab Community Center for Economic Social Services (ACCESS) recruited Arab men from the community to become the models used in the booklet illustrations and unveiled the booklet at the Spring 2006 National Arab American Health Conference. A total of 250 booklets were distributed at the conference, which was attended by a number of health care systems that serve Arab Americans in Southeastern Michigan.

Both Dr. Sakr and ACCESS are working to disseminate a total of 1,500 booklets appropriately to men and providers who serve them throughout the Arab community.

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Impetus for the Collaboration
The Michigan Cancer Consortium prostate cancer decision aid, Making the Choice: Deciding What to Do About Early Stage Prostate Cancer, was developed by the Michigan Cancer Consortium Prostate Cancer Action Committee (PCAC) using a research-based developmental process. However, the PCAC recognized that there is a very large population of Arab men in Michigan and that, although Arab men also develop prostate cancer, they often are not provided the information needed to understand their disease in their own language. As a result, Arab men may not be fully informed about their options.

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Results
As a result of this collaboration, Arabic-speaking men in Michigan who are diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer now have access to a comprehensive educational tool (www.michigancancer.org/prostatecancerdecision_net/
prostatecancerdecision_org/Booklet/ArabicMCCProstate
CancerBooklet.pdf) that informs them clearly about treatment options that are available and provides an explanation of the side effects and advantages of each treatment modality, thereby enabling them to make an informed decision on a timely basis. The outcome of this project is consistent with the MCC priority on prostate cancer control.

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Lessons Learned
The overwhelming acceptance of the booklet among the Arab community is yet another piece of evidence that involving individuals from local communities in cancer control strategies creates ownership of the endeavor and community wide awareness.

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Collaborating Partners

• Wael Sakr, MD, Professor of Pathology and Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Detroit Medical Center

• Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) - Dearborn

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MCC Recognition
The Arabic Prostate Cancer Patient Education Booklet project received the Michigan Cancer Consortium’s 2006 Spirit of Collaboration Honorable Mention Award. The annual award is presented to member organizations that have done outstanding collaborative work to significantly move comprehensive cancer control activities forward in Michigan.

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Learn More
For more information about this project, please contact Carol Garlinghouse, MSN, RN, Michigan Public Health Institute, at cgarling@comcast.net or May Yassine, PhD, MPH, Michigan Public Health Institute, at myassine@mphi.org.

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last updated: 06/25/07

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