A cross-border model for cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship through the use of community health workers/promotores in the lower Rio Grande valley

Hispanic residents of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) on the Texas-Mexico border experience significant barriers in adopting preventive health behaviors to decrease their risk for cancer. Barriers include lack of education and information, low socioeconomic status, lack of health insurance, language, and low health literacy. Consequently, Hispanics are less likely to engage in preventive behaviors for cancer prevention (such as screening) and are often diagnosed and treated at later stages. However, Hispanic residents tend to benefit from culturally appropriate interventions to increase cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship. ÉPICO: Education to Promote Improved Cancer Outcomes utilizes promotores to address major barriers related to cancer by conducting outreach and providing tailored education to the residents of the LRGV. ÉPICO aims to increase the delivery of comprehensive cancer services through development of a replicable, sustainable tailored training program for promotores. Being trusted, indigenous members of the target communities, promotores can be effective in delivering important health information to underserved, at-risk populations. Bicultural promotores use tailored strategies in English and Spanish to improve cancer prevention, treatment, and healthy survivorship behaviors among residents. The promotora model—as demonstrated in the ÉPICO project—of cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship education is a culturally relevant and appropriate intervention for health education, promotion, and behavior change in bicultural and transnational settings such as those underserved and resource-poor areas s found on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border.