Breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in U.S women. Each year, an estimated 175,00 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, 43,000 die from the disease. It has been shown that effective screening precedures for breast cancer can reduce morbidity and mortality from this disease. Some women do not receive preventive screening services and, therefore, become at risk for presenting with late stage disease and for dying earlier from breast cancer. These women tend to be older, members of a minority group, uninsured and underinsured, less educated, and of a low socieconomic status.
Compañeras En Acción (CEA), is a clinic-based health promotion program that uses the CHW model to increase mammography utilization among indigent Latina women in San Diego County. Five Community Health Centers (CHC) were recruited to participate in the program. The CEA project staff provided the CHC clinic staff with technical assistance in recruitment, training, and maintenance of CHW. Once in place, the CHW disseminated a culturally sensitive curriculum-driven breast cancer health promotion and outreached program for age-appropriate participants. To date, approximately 1,400 women have been exposed to the curriculum, and of those 1096 women have recieved clinic breast exams and mammography screening.
By training the clinic staff in the CHW model we were able to overcome barriers related to access to care. The use of the model also facilitated the institutionalization and dissemination of a cancer education curriculum.
Learning Objectives: Describe the differences between a Community Based model vs. a clinic-based CHW model
Keywords: Breast Cancer Programs, Evaluation
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.