2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Online Program

328777
Using HRSA data to inform community-based cancer prevention initiatives within the American Cancer Society


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Arthi Rao, B Arch, MLA, ABD, Statistics and Evaluation Center, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA
Liora Sahar, PhD, GISP, Statistics and Evaluation center, Intramural Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA
Background: The Affordable Care Act of 2010 greatly expanded the role of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in providing healthcare services to underserved communities. The American Cancer Society (ACS) and other public health organizations consider FQHCs as key collaborators in a national effort to promote disease prevention. ACS leads initiatives to increase use of  colorectal and breast cancer screening in low-income and underserved populations and recently is working with the CDC to improve HPV vaccination uptake.  Mapping of data reported by FQHCs to HRSA is being used to inform strategic decision-making for these initiatives.

Objective: Demonstrate how ACS uses HRSA data coupled with geospatial analysis to identify disparities in cancer screening rates, redirect available resources and find potential community partnerships to increase local cancer prevention efforts. Describe interdepartmental collaborations within ACS in utilizing this analysis for cancer prevention programming.

Methods: FQHC locations and service areas are mapped and layered with socioeconomic profiles, urban/rural classifications, cancer screening rates and other data from publicly available sources, such as the Census and BRFSS.  A comprehensive socioecological framework supported with geospatial modeling integrates available data to better understand differential cancer screening rates in communities. 

Results/Conclusions:  Advanced spatial analysis and modeling are effective in identifying areas of low screening rates and potential gaps in access to care and community resources.   This integrated information is used to evaluate performance of ACS cancer screening initiatives and supports better targeting and improved resource allocation in communities. Data, methods, and a collaborative roadmap of this process will be presented.

Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice

Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate the potential of using HRSA data to inform organization-wide cancer prevention initiatives. Demonstrate the advantages of geospatial analysis over traditional methods for strategic guidance in cancer prevention initiatives

Keyword(s): Cancer Prevention and Screening, Community Health Centers

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As a doctoral GIS intern, I have worked on several program evaluation and visualization projects at the American Cancer society using geospatial methods. I also authored the Python script required to generate the FQHC service areas and am actively involved in performing the geospatial analysis and modeling. My doctoral studies and research areas include spatial/social epidemiology and health-built environment relationships in communities.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
American Cancer Society Program Evaluation Employment (includes retainer)

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.

Back to: 4267.0: Community Health Policy Development and Implementation