Community Outreach and Engagement

Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem NC

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT (COE): PROJECT SUMMARY The Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center (WFBCCC) serves a 58-county region in western North Carolina, southwestern Virginia, and southern West Virginia. This catchment area is largely rural and has significant racial, ethnic, and geographic cancer disparities, driven largely by elevated cancer risk factors (obesity, tobacco use) and limited access to health care and other socia l determinants of health in the region. The overall goal of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) at WFBCCC is to inform research, develop education programs, and implement cancer control strategies to address the cancer burden within the WFBCCC catchment area, with a particular focus on cancers that disproportionately impact the region. The COE seeks to achieve the following Specific Aims: (1) define, describe, and disseminate information on the cancer burden, risk factors, and disparities in the catchment area to guide WFBCCC research and community-informed interventions; (2) implement evidence-based cancer control interventions, facilitated through community collaborations and designed to impact the burden of cancer in the catchment area; (3) facilitate and support community-engaged research and diverse and inclusive clinical trial participation within the Cancer Center, region, and beyond; and (4) promote policy and advocacy directed at reducing the cancer burden and disparities and advancing cancer health equity. COE activities are facilitated through the Office of Cancer Health Equity (OCHE), led by Ronny Bell, PhD, MS, (Director) and assisted by Kathryn Weaver, PhD, MPH, (Assistant Director, Research Integration), and Carla Strom, MLA (Assistant Director, Operations). The COE staff reflects the diversity of the catchment area and includes Population Health Navigators, Community Educators, and Research Facilitators. Bell receives guidance and input from the Community Advisory Board, which ensures integration of community engagement into the clinical, research, and educational activities of the WFBCCC. The COE uses the COE Internal Steering Committee to coordinate research and training activities across WFBCCC Programs. The COE has been very successful in increasing participation of underserved populations in cancer clinical trials. For example, the year prior to the start of the Underserved Patient Navigation Program, 20% of Hispanic patients participated in interventional studies. Among navigated patients, the participation rate increased from 14% to 34%. To ensure that COE achieves its mission, COE effectiveness will be assessed through monitoring: (1) research addressing catchment needs and disparities; (2) minority participation in research; (3) awareness and knowledge of cancer prevention and control strategies; and, (4) access to culturally appropriate cancer-related care. Future directions for the COE will focus on expanding data collection activities through enhanced analytic tools; developing collaborations outside North Carolina; forming collaborative relationships through the new strategic alliance between Wake Forest Baptist Health and Atrium Health ; and working toward local, state, and national policies focused on eliminating cancer disparities.