Bridging Neglect: improved access to high-quality heart health information and care for communities at risk of Chagas disease

摘要 恰加斯病是一种被忽视的疾病，在马萨诸塞州和周边地区影响着大约3400人 在美国有30万人。感染查加斯寄生虫可以传播克氏锥虫 在大约5%的怀孕母亲中，垂直向孩子。解决恰加斯病的努力几乎不是 存在于美国的医疗专业人员和高危社区缺乏对这种疾病的认识，这 导致20%-30%的感染者心源性死亡。面临恰加斯病风险的拉丁裔社区也有 健康素养低，在其他心脏健康因素方面的教育推广经验较少 比如肥胖、糖尿病和预防吸烟。我们正在东波士顿的强心计划的基础上继续发展， 马萨诸塞州，将社区外展和教育与筛查和转介的便利化相结合 用于治疗恰加斯病。医学图书馆学、临床传染病和医学图书馆学专业知识 拉丁裔社区外展和教育方面的经验将协同作用，利用拉丁裔优化外展 社区青睐的社交媒体。面对面、印刷、可视媒体和基于网络的知识提供将 利用成熟的社区合作伙伴关系，补充智能手机消息传递。图书馆 理科学生将获得以最具吸引力的形式提供医疗信息的经验， 一个在全国范围内传播的选择。

Summary Chagas disease is a neglected disease that affects around 3,400 individuals in Massachusetts and around 300,000 in the United States. Infection with the Chagas parasite Trypanosoma cruzi can be transmitted vertically to the child in around 5% of pregnant mothers. Efforts to address Chagas disease are nearly non- existent in the U.S. Medical professionals and at-risk communities lack awareness of the disease, which leads to cardiac death in 20-30% of the infected. Latino communities at risk for Chagas disease also have low health literacy and have experienced less educational outreach regarding other heart health factors like obesity, diabetes and smoking prevention. We are building on the Strong Hearts project in East Boston, Massachusetts, that combines community outreach and education with facilitation of screening and referral for treatment of Chagas disease. Expertise in medical library science, clinical Infectious Disease and experience in Latino community outreach and education will synergize to optimize outreach using Latino communities’ favored social media. In-person, print, visual media and web-based knowledge provision will complement smartphone messaging, leveraging well-established community partnerships. Library sciences students will gain experience in providing medical information in optimally attractive forms, with an option of nationwide dissemination.