A Community-Partnered, Evidence-Based Approach to Improving Cancer Care Delivery for Low-Income and Minority Patients with Cancer.

Abstract

Community-engaged adaptations of evidence-based interventions are needed to improve cancer care delivery for low-income and minority populations with cancer. The objective of this study was to adapt an intervention to improve end-of-life cancer care delivery using a community-partnered approach. We used a two-step formative research process to adapt the evidence-based lay health workers educate engage andencourage patients to share (LEAPS) cancer care intervention. The first step involved obtaining a series of adaptations through focus groups with 15 patients, 12 caregivers, and 6 leaders and staff of the Unite Here Health (UHH) payer organization, and 12 primary care and oncology care providers. Focus group discussions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the constant comparative method of qualitative analysis. The second step involved finalization of adaptations from a community advisory board comprised of 4 patients, 2 caregivers, 4 oncology providers, 2 lay health workers and 4 UHH healthcare payer staff and executive leaders. Using this community-engaged approach, stakeholders identified critical barriers and solutions to intervention delivery which included: (1) expanding the intervention to ensure patient recruitment; (2) including caregivers; (3) regular communication between UHH staff, primary care and oncology providers; and (4) selecting outcomes that reflect patient-reported quality of life. This systematic and community-partnered approach to adapt an end-of-life cancer care intervention strengthened this existing intervention to promote the needs and preferences of patients, caregivers, providers, and healthcare payer leaders. This approach can be used to address cancer care delivery for low-income and minority patients with cancer.