Innovative State Approaches to Addressing National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program Priorities

Wisconsin’s Collaborative Approach to Increase Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening

Authors:

Allison Antoine (Presenter)
University of Wisconsin

Amy Conlon, University of Wisconsin
Angela Corbett, University of Wisconsin
David Frazer, University of Wisconsin
Carrie Stehman, University of Wisconsin
Noelle LoConte, University of Wisconsin

Public Health Statement: In 2014, 74% of Wisconsin adults, ages 50–75 were considered up-to-date on their CRC screening, yet only 30% of Milwaukee FQHC patients, who are predominately African-American, Hispanic, Native American, and Hmong and living below the poverty line, are considered up-to-date on their screening.

Purpose: The purpose of the project is to increase CRC screening rates among Milwaukee FQHC partners to help achieve the national screening goal of 80% by 2018.

Methods/Approach: Identifying and addressing organizational, system, and policy level barriers to CRC screening through evidence-based intervention and supportive strategy implementation, technical assistance, and financial support will help reach the goal. Following the completion of a clinical assessment, achievement of outcomes will be assessed through annual clinic level screening rates, patient and provider/staff surveys, implementation logs and comparison of project screening rates with local, state, and national rates.

Results: The average CRC screening rate across all participating clinics has increased from 36.02% (range 11–70%) at baseline to 41.62% (range 12–77%) at the end of PY1. At the end of PY1, half of the partner identified objectives were accomplished and several challenges were identified. Results from provider/staff survey will be discussed.

Conclusions/Implications: Working to improve systems and organizational policies/activities is challenging. Barriers to implementing interventions and strategies to increase CRC screening rates range from technology and organizational capacity to organizational culture and change. Key to addressing some of these challenges will be multi-disciplinary support from within and outside of the organization.

Using Community Gardens as a Tool to Increase Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Consumption for Low-Income, Urban Refugees in Utah

Authors:

Brad Belnap (Presenter)
Utah Comprehensive Cancer Control Program

Lindsay Snow, Utah Comprehensive Cancer Control Program

Public Health Statement: Utah settles more than 1,100 refugees each year, most in Salt Lake County. Utah’s refugee population faces significant barriers to accessing health resources, including transportation, language, cultural barriers, and poverty. Refugee families in Utah have a median income of less than $24,000 and 72% access food assistance.

Purpose: Increase access to and consumption of culturally appropriate fresh fruits and vegetables for Utah refugees through expanding the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) New Roots refugee farming program.

Methods/Approach: IRC established the Sunnyvale Farmers’ Market to connect refugee farmers to a population of over 10,000 refugees in South Salt Lake City. IRC established baseline fruit and vegetable consumption and demographics data about refugees in the Sunnyvale community, developed tools to promote the market, and created a system for refugee and immigrant gardeners at other sites to sell their produce directly to the community.

Results: Fruit and vegetable consumption increased 25% within the target population within the first year. Over 20 varieties of culturally significant foods were offered at the market. IRC developed a toolkit to assist other communities to utilize community gardens to target low-income populations. Additional garden space was acquired from the city to expand the number of farmers supplying produce to the market.

Conclusions/Implications: Community gardens offered an effective and attractive way for refugee populations to increase consumption of healthy, culturally appropriate foods.

Understanding Cancer Control Activities and Plans of State Teams Participating in Technical Assistance Workshops for Implementing Evidence-Based Strategies

Authors:

Robin Vanderpool (Presenter)
University of Kentucky

Timothy Walker, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health

Heather Brandt, University of South Carolina
Prajakta Adsul, National Cancer Institute
Maria Zubizarreta , Arnold School of Public Health University of South Carolina
Meagan Pilar, University of Kentucky College of Public Health
Maria Fernandez, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health
Ross Brownson, Washington University in St. Louis The Brown School & Prevention Research Center of St. Louis
Sarah Moreland-Russell, Washington University in St. Louis Brown School of Social Work
Paula Cuccaro, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health
Seif Nasir, Washington University in St. Louis Brown School of Social Work
Cynthia Vinson, National Cancer Institute
Wynne Norton, National Cancer Institute
David Chambers, National Cancer Institute

Public Health Statement: There is a need to accelerate the adoption and implementation of evidence-based strategies (EBSs) to impact cancer incidence, mortality and reduce cancer disparities.

Purpose: The Comprehensive Cancer Control National Partnership (CCCNP) organized technical assistance (TA) workshops for selected state coalitions to help them increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates at the local level. Workshops provided expert presentations on implementing EBSs, and led state teams through an interactive action planning process. This work describes the potential contributions of workshops on teams’ cancer control activities and plans.

Methods/Approach: CCCNP selected two sets of 11 state teams to participate in TA workshops: CRC screening (September 2015) and HPV vaccination (May 2016). Using content analysis methods, we assessed teams’ action plans developed during the workshops and compared them to states’ current activities and perceived benefits as described in their initial TA workshop applications.

Results: State applications identified current cancer control activities and priorities (e.g. reducing health disparities, educating patients and providers, and using EBSs). Examples of perceived benefits of participating in the TA workshops were: creating a strategic action plan, strengthening partnerships, sharing/learning about EBSs, and improving/expanding policies, goals, and efforts. Action plans developed during the TA workshops described cancer control priority activities, and commonly included: leveraging/expanding partnerships, using EBSs, educating/training providers, developing communication plans, and conducting trainings for health clinics.

Conclusions/Implications: Common priority activities identified via the action plans aligned with perceived benefits from workshop participation and expanded current cancer control activities listed on workshop applications.

Implementation of Interventions Focused on National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program Priorities

Authors:

Jamila C. Fonseka, MPH, (Presenter)
CDC

Angela Moore, MPH, CDC
LaShawn Glasgow, RTI International
Cynthia S. Soloe, MPH, RTI International