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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Peyton R. Mason, MPH and Carson Jacobi Pattillo, MPH. Patient Services, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10605, 9148218941, masonp@lls.org

Information and choices about new cancer therapies exist today that were not available just one year ago. According to recent study led by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (The Society), factors such as age, ethnicity, geographic location and gender influence access to such lifesaving information. Unequal access to the best treatments, accurate information and social support can impact quality of life, outcomes and survival.

Following a cancer diagnosis, at a time that would find many people in a highly stressful and vulnerable state, individuals need rapid access to information and support. Last year alone, The Society reached more than 2.5 million individuals. The Society provides services through a multi-dimensional approach to education and support on both an international and grassroots level. Those dimensions include: live teleconferences, interactive web education programs, online chat forums, local programs and family support groups.

The Society's web-based and telephone programs deliver information, research updates and support to a diverse audience of patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals. These formats provide an alternative for individuals unable to access local programs due to barriers such as geographic location, functional status and transportation. The Internet has also become a chosen resource in assisting individuals to make health decisions. It is currently the preferred media source for health information among 50-64 year-olds, a generation with high cancer incidence.

This paper presentation will discuss how The Society uses evaluative methods and media technology to provide the most effective cancer education and support programs at both the large-scale and community level.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify opportunities relevant to their practice to deliver community, web and/or telephone-based programs, applying methods evaluated by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
• Assess the impact of these education and support programs on health seeking behavior, treatment outcomes and quality of life.
• Discuss at least three advantages of combining community level education and support programs with large-scale multi-media campaigns in working with underserved and hard to reach populations.

Keywords: Education, Access to Care

Related Web page: www.lls.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered