Appalachian Community Cancer Network

This project, on which OHCHD is assisting, is funded by the National Institutes of Health. It aims to address critical cancer control issues that impact rural, medically underserved population within the Appalachian region.

Body & Soul

Office of Health Communications and Health Disparities Newsletter, The Collaborator - Fall 2010

(PDF, requires Adobe Acrobat^®)

This project, led solely by OHCHD, is funded by the PA Department of Health. Its purpose is to disseminate throughout selected PA counties a nationally tested program to improve the eating habits of African Americans through a faith-based approach.

Supplement

In 2009, OHCHD was awarded a one-year supplement to the Body & Soul program to offer support for tobacco and oral cancer education at Body & Soul churches. Services included the development and delivery of a culturally appropriate education session and accompanying resource guide (see resources), distribution of educational materials, and promotion of the Pennsylvania Free Quitline. Evaluation and distribution of mini-grant funds to churches was also incorporated into the program.

CIS Research Consortium (CISRC)

This grant, on which OHCHD is assisting, is funded by the National Institutes of Health. The project aims to provide state-of-the-science theoretical, technical, and logistical support to specific research projects identified by consortium members.

Minority Institution-Cancer Center Partnership: The Lincoln University/Fox Chase Collaboration

HCHD brochure

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This grant, funded by the National Institutes of Health, aims to create a cadre of well-trained and experienced cancer researchers at Lincoln University (a historically black college/university) focused on reducing cancer health disparities, and to encourage such research at Fox Chase.

Perceptions and Patterns of Use of a Decision-making Aid: The Healing Choices for Men with Prostate Cancer Experience

This project, led by OHCHD, is partially funded by the Foundation for Informed Decision-making, George Bennett Fellowship. It utilizes a mixed methods approach to provide both quantitative and qualitative data to describe the use of an evidence-informed decision support software program for early stage prostate cancer.

Two Delivery Channels to Improve CRC Screening

This grant, on which OHCHD assisted, is funded by the National Institutes of Health. It aims to compare the effect of two health communication delivery channels on increasing colorectal cancer screening rates among average risk women attending routine OB/GYN visits.

Overcoming Barriers to Genetic Literacy among Underserved Minorities

This grant on which OHCHD assisted was funded by the National Institutes of Health. It aims to understand how minority populations (i.e. African American and Latino) respond to tools designed to collect family health history information and to identify strategies to make these tools more appropriate and accessible to these groups.

PA Cancer Education Network

This project, led solely by OHCHD, is funded by the PA Department of Health. It provides education on specific cancers with high incidence in PA to several regions of the state including Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest Pennsylvania.

The Cancer Information Service (CIS)

The cancer Information Service (CIS), established in 1975, was started by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to educate people about cancer prevention, risk factors, early detection, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and research. To provide information about cancer to patients and their families, physicians and other health professionals, and the public, the CIS has a three-pronged approach:

1. Information specialists answer questions about cancer by telephone, TTY, instant messaging, and e-mail. They can provide printed and electronic NCI publications.
2. The Partnership Program reaches those who may have limited access to health information.
3. The Research Program helps researchers advance health communication practices.

This project, run solely by OHCHD, is funded by the National Cancer Institute. Its primary goal is to strengthen the services provided by local cancer-oriented organizations in PA, Delaware and New Jersey through the provision of technical assistance and training.

Facilitating Decision Making in Advanced Cancer Patients

This project, on which OHCHD assisted, was funded by the NIH. The goals of the project were to determine the impact of a web-based communication aid on: (1) satisfaction with physician-patient communication and decisional conflict; 2) patient expectations regarding potential benefits and adverse reactions associated with treatment options; and 3) the content of the physician-patient consultation.

Navigating Pennsylvania Cancer Patients (NPCP) Program and Patient Navigator Supplement

This grant, which OHCHD led, was funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. It sought to develop a theory and evidence based patient navigator program that is culturally and linguistically appropriate for diverse populations through the state of Pennsylvania. Despite recent advances in cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment, underserved populations are less likely to attend screening, present with later stage disease, and receive limited or inadequate treatment. The study evaluated the effectiveness of the navigator intervention on changes in knowledge and affective variables (e.g., cancer knowledge, attitudes; self-efficacy, beliefs) and patient satisfaction. At the request of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Fox Chase Cancer Center was asked to add the Patient Navigator Supplement, which assessed patients’ health literacy. Patients were recruited in both English and Spanish.

Mailed FIT with Telephone Barriers Counseling for Cancer Screening in Appalachia

This pilot study, on which OHCHD assisted, was funded by the NCI. Its goal was to determine whether people who initially did not perform a recommended test for colorectal cancer that could be completed at home were more adherent following a brief follow-up telephone counseling session.