Community Outreach and Engagement

University Of Florida, Gainesville FL

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT The goal of the UFHCC of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) is to reduce cancer incidence and mortality rates and promote research on diseases and health conditions prevalent in our catchment area (CA) and beyond. The COE office has 16 staff who form partnerships with the community and scientists, conduct outreach, and facilitate implementation of evidence- based cancer risk reduction and screening to address CA needs and higher incidences of incidence and mortality. The COE aims are to: 1) assess and monitor CA cancer incidence and mortality using linked clinical and community member reported data; 2) engage the community as partners in adopting evidence-based strategies for cancer incidence and mortality rates, screening, treatment, and survivorship through outreach and education; 3) enhance the impact of UFHCC research on the CA by involving the community in research agenda setting, aligning research with the CA cancer rates, linking UFHCC scientists to the community, and facilitating access to interventional trials; and, 4) engage faculty, trainees, and the community in advocacy and policy development. The CA of 23 counties accounts for 77% of UFHCC cases. COE further characterized the catchment area by census tract–level social and economic factors to help guide programmatic prioritization. The CA has higher cancer overall incidence and mortality rates than the state or the U.S. The CA has high rates of individuals who are uninsured, current smokers, and adults over 65 years along with low educational attainment and cancer screening rates, relative to Florida and the U.S. Using these data and Community Advisory Board recommendations, COE focused on high priority cancers, with an emphasis on increasing the uptake of cervical and colorectal cancer screening and reducing cancer risks (e.g., tobacco use, sun exposure). Since 2020, >1,000 individuals received education about cervical and colorectal cancer screening and 281 were navigated to mobile outreach clinics for Pap and HPV self-tests. Over 350 skin cancer prevention kits were distributed to Florida farmworkers. After a delay due to COVID-19, COE began linking cancer patients to the Money Matters Program, which provides financial counseling and linkage to community resources. COE works with liaisons from each UFHCC program to engage researchers in addressing cancer incidence and mortality rates in the CA and links members to the community through the 1) UFHCC Community Scientists; 2) OneFlorida Clinical Research Consortium; and 3) community groups, such as the Project CONTINUITY Steering Committee. COE future plans are to: expand Project CONTINUITY to 10 additional communities with an increased focus on lung cancer screening, participation in treatment trials from across the catchment area, and engaging older adults in cancer survivorship education and research.