Online Program

320029
Increasing Efforts to Reduce Cervical Cancer Through State-Level Comprehensive Cancer Control Planning


Monday, November 2, 2015 : 8:30 a.m. - 8:50 a.m.

Beth Meyerson, MDiv, PhD, Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Gregory Zimet, Ph.D., Pediatrics/ Adolescent Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Gurprit Multani, MPH, Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Caleb Levell, BA, Indiana Cancer Consortium, Indianapolis, IN
Carrie Lawrence, PhD, MS, CFLE, CHES, Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Jennifer Smith, PhD, Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Background: Reducing cervical cancer disparities in the U.S. requires intentional focus on structural barriers such as systems and policy which impact access to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, cervical cancer screening and treatment. Such changes are difficult and often politicized. State comprehensive cancer control (CCC) plans are vehicles that, if designed well, can help build collective focus on structural changes.

Study Objectives: To identify the prioritization of cervical cancer in state CCC plans, the conceptualization of HPV within these plans, and the focus of plans on structural changes to reduce cervical cancer disparities.

Methods:  Systematic content analysis of CCC plans from 50 states and the District of Columbia from February-June 2014 for evidence of cervical cancer prioritization, conceptualization of HPV, and focus on structural barriers to cervical cancer vaccination, screening or treatment.

Results: Findings indicate that prioritization of cervical cancer within state CCC plans may not be a strong indicator of state efforts to reduce screening and treatment disparities. While a majority of plans reflected scientific evidence that HPV causes cervical and other cancers, they did not focus on structural elements impacting access to evidence-based interventions.

Conclusions: Opportunities exist to improve state CCC plans by increasing their focus on structural interventions that impact cervical cancer prevention, detection, and treatment; particularly for the 41% of plans ending in 2015 and the 31% ending between 2016-2020.  Future studies should focus on the use of policy tools in state CCC plans and their application to cervical cancer prevention and treatment.

Learning Areas:

Administration, management, leadership
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe the prioritization of cervical cancer in state comprehensive cancer control plans. Compare the conceptualization of HPV in state comprehensive cancer control plans. Analyze the focus of plans on structural changes to reduce cervical cancer disparities.

Keyword(s): Cancer and Women’s Health, Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an Assistant Professor of Health Policy & Management at Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, a Fellow with the Center for HPV Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine, the Co-Director of the Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention and the Policy Director for Cervical Cancer-Free Coalition. My research focuses on the extent to which health systems provide HIV, STD and cervical cancer services; and on public health policy behaviors.
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.