Understanding a Diverse Cancer Center Catchment Area: A Qualitative Needs Assessment Built on a Theoretical Framework

INTRODUCTION: Quantitative approaches to the cancer incidence and mortality of a geographic region may lack understanding of the human context in the region thereby affecting how relevant cancer prevention and control activities can best be targeted to a cancer center’s catchment area. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to obtain and analyze qualitative data that described the barriers and facilitators in a cancer center’s catchment area. A further objective was to use the assessment to plan a comprehensive approach to cancer prevention and control activities in the region. METHODS: Extensive qualitative data were gathered from 32 key informants in the 13 county catchment area. We used the Warnecke Model for Analysis of Population Health and Health Disparities to analyze the qualitative data. We coded factors affecting cancer prevention and control using a directed content analysis approach guided by the Warnecke Model. RESULTS: Four outcome types included fundamental barriers such as political environment and discrimination, gaps in resources, and lack of coordinated activities. Social and physical barriers included distrust, diverse language and cultures, and geographic distance. Individual barriers included lack of system negotiation, health literacy, and poverty. Biological barriers were disparate disease rates in specific groups. CONCLUSION: The analysis and assessment led to the creation of a catchment area wide coalition that used the results to formulate a comprehensive strategic plan to address the barriers in the region.

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In the World of Politics and Stigma Around Cancer, Can Cancer Survivors With Political Career Become Cancer Advocates?

Journal of Global Oncology ◽

10.1200/jgo.18.72300 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽

pp. 180s-180s

Author(s):

M. Abdullah

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Prevention ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Cancer Care ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Cancer Center ◽

First Lady ◽

Cancer Prevention And Control ◽

Care Services ◽

And Control

Background and context: According to WHO estimates in 2012, around 20,000 Afghans suffered from various types of cancers while around 15,000 die of this disease. Until late 2015, there was not a single dedicated bed for cancer patients nor there was a doctor, nurse or other cancer care professionals within the structure of Afghan government, especially within the Ministry of Public Health. In November 2014 when Dr. Shinkai Karokhail, member of parliament, returned Afghanistan after spending almost a year overseas for breast cancer treatment misdiagnosed in Afghanistan, she and H.E. the First Lady, Rolla Ghani, began advocating for cancer prevention and control in Afghanistan. They managed to bring the few cancer care professionals and advocates under one umbrella called Afghanistan Cancer Foundation (ACF). Aim: To provide cancer care services to cancer patients. Strategy/Tactics: The main strategy was the involvement of known social and political figures in cancer advocacy. Considering the disparity in cancer incidence among men and women and breast cancer being the leading cancer, one of the most influential people was H.E. the First Lady who is a strong advocate of women rights. The other tactic was the involvement of members of parliament who were cancer survivors. Program/Policy process: Once the political commitment regarding cancer prevention and control was gained, H.E. the First Lady and members of parliament asked the Ministry of Finance to allocate fund for cancer prevention and control. Thus, first fund of only $50,000 was provided by the Ministry of Finance provided to Ministry of Health in the fiscal year 2015. Outcomes: As a result of the advocacy efforts by cancer control advocates, especially by Ms. Shinkai Karokhail, the breast cancer survivor, and H.E. the First Lady of Afghanistan, the first 10-bed day-care and 29-bed IPD cancer center was established in Afghanistan in March 2016. Subsequently, the National Cancer Control Program (NCCP) was created in January 2017 within the Ministry of Public Health. In addition, the first hospital-based cancer registry was formed which will be followed by establishment of Kabul Cancer Registry. The only cancer center provided health care services to around 12,000 patients in 2017 who were either not receiving cancer care services or were traveling to neighboring countries for diagnosis and treatment. What was learned: Cancer patients/survivors who have political career can be the best cancer prevention and control advocates.

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Cancer cases detected in the prevention and control service of a private cancer clinic in Peru

Infectious Agents and Cancer ◽

10.1186/s13027-019-0259-0 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

José Revilla-López ◽

Andrea Anampa-Guzmán ◽

Luis Casanova Marquez ◽

Katrina Weeks ◽

Suzanne Pollard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Prevention ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Private Insurance ◽

Cancer Center ◽

Cancer Prevention And Control ◽

Retrospective Clinical Study ◽

Prevention Service ◽

And Control ◽

Control Service ◽

Cancer Clinic

Abstract Purpose Describe the characteristics of patients seen at the Cancer Prevention and Control Service at a Peruvian private cancer clinic in 2014. Patients and methods This retrospective clinical study analyzed the prevalence of 10 cancers and characteristics of patients seen at a private cancer center located in Lima, Peru. The study sample included 7680 adults, and data were collected from de-identified medical records. Results The average age of the patients was 44.71 years and 98,82% of them had private insurance. The majority of patients were women (67.69%). Our gross incidence rate of cancer was 35.16 per 100,000 in the Cancer Prevention and Control Service in 2014. Only 0.35% had cancer, and most of those diagnosed with cancer (77.78%) were diagnosed in the early stages, stages I and II. The two most common cancers observed were breast and thyroid cancer. Conclusions The high rates of early, rather than late-stage diagnoses at this clinic are dramatically different than national rates. This difference may be because we are analyzing data from a prevention service seeing mainly patients with private insurance as opposed to national data, which consists primarily of patients seen in oncologic services with national insurance.

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