CCSG Supplement: National Outreach Network (NON)

University Of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr, Houston TX

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Abstract This extension application for the National Outreach Network (NON) Community Health Educator (CHE)- facilitated education and outreach supplement will focus on African Americans in the State of Texas, MD Anderson?s catchment area. African Americans experience the highest cancer incidence and shortest survival of any race or ethnicity both nationally and in Texas. Additionally, women and minority populations are significantly underrepresented in clinical trials (i.e., less than 10% of all patients enrolled in clinical trials). These inequities in participation contribute to cancer disparities as access to cutting-edge medical treatments and state-of-the-art care that clinical trials provide is not equally available. The aims of the supplement are to integrate a community health educator (CHE) within key outreach and education initiatives at MD Anderson, adapt and implement programming to increase minority awareness and participation in clinical trials, and develop and implement novel strategies that increase awareness and knowledge of HPV vaccination in collaboration with institutional initiatives. The CHE-facilitated education and outreach outlined in this proposal aligns closely with MD Anderson?s aims and goals of the Community Outreach and Education (COE) component of the P30 Cancer Center Support Grant. Our cancer control initiatives seek to advance community-based efforts in cancer prevention, screening, early detection, and survivorship to achieve a measureable reduction in the cancer burden, particularly among the poor and underserved. The CHE will leverage MD Anderson?s educational resources to plan, conduct, and evaluate cancer-focused community outreach and education activities for underserved communities. Education will focus primarily on minority clinical trial participation and Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. This proposal describes innovative opportunities for our current CHE to deliver health education and build capacity to sustain cancer research and control activities in racial/ethnic minority populations, building on his strong network of community partnerships.