The National Council of La Raza’s Institute for Hispanic Health (NCLR/IHH), in partnership with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Office of Minority Health (OMH), NIH is conducting a Pilot Project on Latino Cancer Education which includes the following components:
- Identify knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and barriers to care regarding health and screening for cervical and breast cancer among Latin women.
- Review and make recommendations to the office of Education and Special Initiatives (ESI) to refine current materials on cervical and breast cancer.
- Assist in the dissemination of appropriate educational materials on cervical and breast cancer.
- Feasibility assessment of implementing a “train of trainers” program on cancer clinical trials for Latin women in partnership with the Cancer Information Service Program.
- Assembly of a 15-member Working Group including: OMH, NCI and NCLR staff, Latino health care professionals, lay leaders, Latino cancer survivors and, those “touched by cancer,” to provide overall direction and advice to the project.
The Project is carried out in collaboration with NCLR affiliate community-based organizations (CBOs) which are: Hispanic Health Council in Hartford, CT; El Concilio in Stockton, CA; Latin American Community Center in Wilmington, DE; and Latino Leadership in Orlando, FL. All NCLR affiliates were invited to present proposals, and the four selected CBOs were picked after a competitive process.
A total of 30 focus group discussions (FGs) were conducted: 12 on cervical health, 12 on breast health and, 6 FGs on cancer clinical trials with the participation of Latin women and men, promotores de salud (lay health workers), and health professionals. La Raza staff will complete further analysis. Preliminary results are not available at this moment.
The results of the collaborative partnership process will be use to build capacity and design successful educational intervention programs that span the cancer continuum. Working in partnership, the OMH, NCI/OESI and NCLR will:- Optimize the use of educational tools to meet the information needs of Latinos while building strategies to enhance the important interaction between patients and their health professionals, and to communicate effectively with the public.
- Establish a collaborative partnership that aims to enhance outreach efforts in key geographically vulnerable areas of the country.
- Establish a cadre of Latino community leaders who understand and can speak to priority issues in cancer control.
- Support the development of cancer education program materials in a manner that assures relevance and appropriateness for Latino communities.
