Using Community Health Navigators to Advance Cancer Screening Adherence through Videoconferencing for all Americans who use ASL: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study

Gallaudet University, Washington DC

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

About 500,000 Americans use American Sign Language (ASL). Among those who use ASL, there are documented reports of difficulties in understanding cancer health information in print, accessing clinical services for screenings, and understanding and following treatment-related directives if the screening results warrant a cancer diagnosis. These difficulties contribute to suboptimal health outcomes that we observed in these populations. Community health navigators have proven their value with hearing patients, so it is reasonable to expect that ASL-proficient community health navigators (CHN) will have the same potential to identify and resolve barriers to receiving optimal care for cancer prevention and screening through ASL. We envision an ASL-proficient CHN who can promote cancer screening adherence and improve health outcomes among ASL users. This research builds on the team's current NIH-funded research and appropriately deliver and evaluate the interventions that are well aligned to the needs of Americans who use sign language. This project is supported by a highly interdisciplinary team, spanning expertise in cancer health outcomes, public health, human factors engineering, and computer science.