Joel M. Moskowitz, M.D.

Cancer coverage in a mainstream and Korean American online newspaper: lessons for community intervention
McDonnell, Diana D; Lee, Hyun-Ju; Kim, Young-Bok; Kazinets, Gene; Moskowitz, Joel M
2008 Jun;71(3):388-395, Patient education & counseling
OBJECTIVE: Korean Americans have higher incidence of stomach, liver, and cervical cancer than most groups in CA, USA, and generally lower rates of cancer screening. To better target community interventions, we evaluated the cancer content in a leading Korean American newspaper, the Korea Daily, compared to a mainstream newspaper from the same metropolitan area, the Los Angeles (LA) Times. METHODS: Using the online versions of each newspaper for the year 2006, we counted articles mentioning cancer and evaluated the content in a random sample of 300 articles from each newspaper. Articles were categorized by relevance of cancer content and topic(s) covered. RESULTS: Although the LA Times had a higher proportion of articles mentioning cancer, the Korea Daily had more articles that primarily focused on cancer and addressed specific types of cancer. Articles in the Korea Daily were more likely to discuss prevention, while those in the LA Times more often focused on people, politics, or research. CONCLUSIONS: Smaller, ethnic newspapers may be more amenable to messages about prevention and appropriate places to target community-focused interventions. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Health practitioners should consider submitting articles to ethnic newspapers and forming partnerships with journalists to cultivate this potential
— id: 95519, year: 2008, vol: 71, page: 388, stat: Journal Article,

"Health is strength": a community health education program to improve breast and cervical cancer screening among Korean American Women in Alameda County, California
Moskowitz, Joel M; Kazinets, Gene; Wong, Joann M; Tager, Ira B
2007 ;31(2):173-183, Cancer detection & prevention
BACKGROUND: A 48-month community intervention was conducted to improve breast and cervical cancer (BCC) screening among Korean American (KA) women in Alameda County (AL), California. KA women in Santa Clara (SC) County, California served as a comparison group. METHODS: Random samples of KA women from each county were surveyed by telephone in 1994 (n=818) and 2002 (n=1084). Propensity score analyses were used to estimate the difference between counties in changes over time in screening (Pap tests, breast self-examinations, clinical breast examinations, and mammography), and to estimate differences in screening between participants and non-participants in an educational workshop among women in AL in 2002. RESULTS: Mammography screening and clinical breast examinations increased over time in both counties. Pap tests increased in AL but not SC, and breast self-examinations did not change significantly in either county. None of the intervention-comparison group differences over time were significant. In 2002, compared to non-participants, women who attended a workshop were more likely to report a recent Pap test (P<.08). CONCLUSIONS: Although our overall intervention did not appear to enhance screening practices at the community-level, attendance at a women's health workshop appears to have increased cervical cancer screening
— id: 95520, year: 2007, vol: 31, page: 173, stat: Journal Article,

California adolescent's use of family planning services
Constantine, Norman A; Moskowitz, Joel M
2004 Nov-Dec;36(6):288-288, Perspectives on sexual & reproductive health
— id: 95521, year: 2004, vol: 36, page: 288, stat: Journal Article,

Effect of provider status on preventive screening among Korean-American women in Alameda County, California
Lew, Anthony A; Moskowitz, Joel M; Ngo, Long; Wismer, Barbara A; Wong, Joann M; Ahn, Yangja; Tager, Ira B
2003 Feb;36(2):141-149, Preventive medicine
BACKGROUND: Previous research suggests that having a doctor of the same ethnicity may be associated with lower rates of breast and cervical cancer screening in some Asian-American women. This study analyzes the effect of having a Korean, non-Korean, or no regular doctor upon several measures of screening among Korean-American women. METHODS: A random sample of 339 Korean-American women in Alameda County, California, were surveyed by telephone. Contingency tables and multivariable logistic regression were used to evaluate the association between provider status and six measures of recent screening, controlling for insurance and demographics. RESULTS: Having a non-Korean doctor was associated with an increased likelihood of having a Pap smear (odds ratio = 2.19, 95% confidence interval = 1.00, 4.80), mammogram (odds ratio = 7.63, 95% confidence interval = 2.35, 24.84), and clinical breast examination (odds ratio = 3.76, 95% confidence interval = 1.54, 9.20) in the past 2 years, compared to having a Korean doctor. This relationship is less apparent for nonfemale specific screening tests like cholesterol exams and routine checkups. CONCLUSIONS: Women who have a Korean doctor have less than optimal rates of breast and cervical cancer screening compared to women who have a non-Korean doctor. Having a Korean doctor may indicate less access to preventive health services, and programs to increase screening should target both Korean physicians and their female patients
— id: 95522, year: 2003, vol: 36, page: 141, stat: Journal Article,

Curtailing tobacco use among youth: evaluation of project 4-health
D'Onofrio, Carol N; Moskowitz, Joel M; Braverman, Marc T
2002 Dec;29(6):656-682, Health education & behavior
This article reports the development and evaluation of Project 4-Health, a theory-driven, research-based program to prevent tobacco use among youth enrolled in 4-H clubs throughout California. Additional goals were to involve youth in discouraging others' tobacco use and to develop youth leadership for tobacco control. To assess program effectiveness, 72 clubs were matched and randomly assigned to the program or control condition. Of 1,853 eligible club members, 88.6% completed the pretest. Of these, 79.5% completed a posttest 4 months after conclusion of program delivery, and 77.6% completed a second posttest 2 years later.Short-term effects were found on 7 of 24 outcome measures, indicating changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intention, but not in social influence variables or behaviors. No long-term effects were observed. Discussion considers how the challenges of designing, delivering, and evaluating the intervention influenced results and implications for preventing tobacco use through community-based youth groups
— id: 95523, year: 2002, vol: 29, page: 656, stat: Journal Article,