265688 Innovative Partnership and Research Integrating Community Health Workers (CHWs) to Positively Impact Latino Cancer Survivors' Health and Wellness Nationally

Monday, October 29, 2012

Sandra San Miguel, MS , Dept Epidemiology & Biostatistics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Amelie Ramirez, DrPH , Dept of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Kipling Gallion, MA , Dept of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Haley Gardiner, MPH , Public Health, LIVESTRONG Foundation, Austin, TX
Purpose: Culturally sensitive interventions integrating promotores are needed to identify Latino cancer survivors with psychosocial health needs and link them to appropriate services to improve wellness. Methods: Cancer groups LIVESTRONG and Redes En Acción partnered to develop a national team of 6 bilingual, bicultural promotores who were trained using LIVESTRONG's online program. Promotores: 1) work with and in clinics and cancer centers to identify cancer survivors of all ages in Redes regional sites in San Francisco, San Diego, Miami, New York, Brownsville and San Antonio, Texas; 2) provide community education and outreach; 3) provide basic patient navigation services; and 4) encourage survivors to access the well-established LIVESTRONG Cancer Navigation Center (LCNC). The LCNC provides bilingual, free, one-on-one support to anyone affected by cancer in the U.S., from time of diagnosis and throughout the cancer journey. LCNC also refers survivors to services addressing their medical, economic and psychosocial needs, monitors client contact and access outcomes. Ongoing intervention has taken a community engagement approach, including a national needs assessment and a mass media campaign. Preliminary Results: From June 2010 to December 2011, promotores conducted 383 education events; provided a wide range of navigation services; and referred 258 Latinos to the LCNC program. Detailed results, as well as other outcomes, lessons learned and program replicability, will be presented. CHWs will assist preparing the presentation and a CHW will attend and co-present. Discussion: CHWs are trusted community members who improve community health and are a bridge between public health research/healthcare system and the community.

Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss the importance of CHWs—often known as promotores in Latino communities—to ensure the successful implementation of a community research project (i.e., educating the community about cancer survivorship resources to promote wellness and QoL and build trust). 2. Demonstrate the development and implementation of an innovative partnership between LIVESTRONG, a leader in cancer survivorship services, and Redes En Acción, a nationally recognized and established Latino cancer research network. 3. Assess and evaluate the effectiveness of the LCNC program, coupled with the assistance of promotores, among Latino cancer survivors across the nation.

Keywords: Cancer, Latino Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract author on the content. I'm responsible for managing this national project since its inception. I've trained all the promotores, provide ongoing supervision, keep track of the project's progress and prepared the abstract in collaboration with my colleagues.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.