2018 NCAAHPERDSM State Convention

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the 2018 JCSU Health Extravaganza. Results indicate that the event was a tremendous success in increasing health awareness to the JCSU and Charlotte community.
Details: Health fairs have been growing in prevalence the past few decades, and more than 2 million people are estimated to annually participate in US community health fairs (Seo, 2011).  Community-based interventions for racial/ethnic minorities (e.g, blacks and Hispanics), such as health fairs, help identify and assess the health needs of these minority populations who have limited access to preventive and basic health care compared to whites (Seo, 2011).  Vendors have the opportunity to offer health education and have an avenue to showcase community programs to meet the health care needs of the population (Dulin et al., 2006). Few studies have evaluated Health Fairs at Division II HBCU Institutions.   Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the 2017 JCSU Health Extravaganza. A convenient sample of Health Fair participants at a small southeastern private historically black college and university was utilized in the study.  Data was collected using the Modified Health Fair Evaluation Form (Dulin, 2006).  Data was also collected on the Modified Vendor Evaluation Form. Responses ranged from 1 = Poor to 5 = Excellent. Descriptive Statistics were utilized to determine the effectiveness of the Health Fair.  Sixty participants (85%) responded Excellent to Question #1, How would you rate the Health Fair in General. Sixty five participants (87.5%) responded Yes to Question #2,   Do you plan on making changes in the things you normally do as a result of anything you learned or participated at the Health Extravaganza, such as taking a class or stopped smoking? Forty participants (55%) responded Yes to Question #7, If you had an abnormality detected through screening, do you plan on getting a follow-up examination? Sixty seven participants (97.1%) responded Yes to Question #8, I would like to attend the Johnson C Smith University Health Extravaganza next year. Vendors reported Means above 4.00 to the following questions: Given Adequate Notice(4.84), Given enough Information prior to the Health Extravaganza (4.86), Set up as requested (4.95), Good Flow of Attendees (4.82), Good Hospitality(5.00), Worthwhile investment of your time (4.96), and Overall Evaluation (4.95). All of the vendors (N = 45) responded that they would participate in the Health Extravaganza again. Results indicate that the event was a tremendous success in increasing health awareness to the JCSU and Charlotte community.  Recommendations are made to further evaluate health fairs at among African American college students