An Evaluation of the NCI-Community Networks Program a Multi-site Community-Based Participatory Research Initiative to Address Cancer Health Disparities (2005-2010)

Disparities in cancer incidence and mortality have been well-documented in underserved, racial and ethnic populations. While the reasons for these disparities are varied and often poorly understood, in 2006, the National Cancer Institute's Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) established the Community Networks Program (CNP) in order to learn more about reducing these disparities. Twenty-five (25) cancer research institutions were funded for five years (the “grantees”) to develop partnerships between cancer researchers and communities experiencing disparities through this new program. The CNP program focused on four (4) cancer sites: breast and cervical cancer in women, prostate cancer in men, and colorectal cancer and four (4) risk reduction areas: cigarette smoking, nutrition, physical activity and hepatitis B vaccination. The goals of the CNP were to use the principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR) to: 1) form sustainable community-researcher partnerships, 2) increase the utilization of beneficial cancer health interventions, 3) train new researchers in CBPR and cancer health disparities research, and, 4) disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed academic publications. The investigators developed a three-phase evaluation strategy which incorporated CBPR principles to evaluate these programs. The grantee data were collected using a Web-based data collection instrument. This evaluation has shown than CBPR can influence the desired goals of forming partnerships, increasing beneficial cancer interventions, training new researchers and disseminating findings. More importantly, the grantees are able to sustain these efforts beyond the term of the CNP funding.