Abstract A28: Reaching vulnerable populations: A process-oriented approach to breast screening

Abstract

This community-based project evolved out of relationships established through the Detroit CNP for Older, Underserved African-Americans (NIH# U01-CA114583-04) to address the unmet needs of the clientele of three partnering community agencies. The need for breast cancer screening among older women from lower socioeconomic groups, the mentally ill, and the disabled has been well-documented. However, mammography among these special populations is low. This project brought together five organizations (three community service agencies, the NCI's Cancer Information Service Partnership Program, and the Karmanos Cancer Institute's Community Network Program) to provide breast health awareness, mammography screening, and navigation to underserved African American women. The five agencies collaborated to address the needs of the homebound, developmentally disabled, homeless, nursing home residents, grandparents raising grandchildren, and others. All groups were identified through a community assessment to identify significant barriers to accessing preventive health care services. Through community-based participatory research (CBPR), the members of the partner organizations worked with community health education professionals to define: 1) community-level needs; 2) assess how best to integrate screening messages and health service navigation into existing service provision; and 3) identify ways to obtain external funding for program implementation. The CBPR process yielded an intervention that consisted of staff training, improved screening needs assessment and procedures for case management referral and follow-up that increased agency capacity to address breast health disparities. A total of 490 women participated in this “high-touch” breast health education and screening intervention. Of those, 170 women received screening mammography and six women were diagnosed and received subsequent treatment and follow-up. The project was recently recognized by the Michigan Cancer Consortium, receiving their highest recognition, the Spirit of Collaboration Award. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010;19(10 Suppl):A28.