Abstract
BackgroundThe objectives are to: 1) describe engagement processes used to prioritize and address regional comprehensive cancer control needs among a Community-Academic Advisory Board (CAB) in the medically-underserved, rural Appalachian region, and 2) detail longitudinal CAB evaluation findings.MethodsThis three-year case study (2017–2020) used a convergent parallel, mixed-methods design. The approach was guided by community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles, the Comprehensive Participatory Planning and Evaluation process, and Nine Habits of Successful Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalitions. Meeting artifacts were tracked and evaluated. CAB members completed quantitative surveys at three time points and semi-structured interviews at two time points. Quantitative data were analyzed using analysis of variance tests. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed via an inductive-deductive process.ResultsThrough 13 meetings, Prevention and Early Detection Action Teams created causal models and prioritized four cancer control needs: human papillomavirus vaccination, tobacco control, colorectal cancer screening, and lung cancer screening. These sub-groups also began advancing into planning and intervention proposal development phases. As rated by 49 involved CAB members, all habits significantly improved from Time 1 to Time 2 (i.e., communication, priority work plans, roles/accountability, shared decision making, value-added collaboration, empowered leadership, diversified funding, trust, satisfaction; all p < .05), and most remained significantly higher at Time 3. CAB members also identified specific challenges (e.g., fully utilizing member expertise), strengths (e.g., diverse membership), and recommendations across habits.ConclusionThis project’s equity-based CBPR approach used a CPPE process in conjunction with internal evaluation of cancer coalition best practices to advance CAB efforts to address cancer disparities in rural Appalachia. This approach encouraged CAB buy-in and identified key strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities that will lay the foundation for continued involvement in cancer control projects. These engagement processes may serve as a template for similar coalitions in rural, underserved areas.
Highlights
Comprehensive cancer control (CCC) efforts refer to an integrated partnership approach that fosters collaboration among multiple organizations to prioritize, develop, and implement plans that address cancer burden across the cancer control continuum
This paper reports on how the involvement of a Community-Academic Advisory Board (CAB) helped to prioritize cancer control and research needs in the medically-underserved, rural Appalachian region
Between June 2017 and September 2020, CAB members engaged in Comprehensive Participatory Planning and Evaluation (CPPE)-related activities to identify and strategize how to address regional cancer priorities
Summary
Demand for patient and stakeholder engagement in research has been emphasized across federally funded calls for proposals and cancer control initiatives [1, 2]. Extensive literature highlights both the importance and complexity of building community partnerships and sustaining research capacity [3, 4]. There is a need for processes that actively engage stakeholders in formulating and implementing CCC research agendas. The objectives are to: 1) describe engagement processes used to prioritize and address regional comprehensive cancer control needs among a Community-Academic Advisory Board (CAB) in the medicallyunderserved, rural Appalachian region, and 2) detail longitudinal CAB evaluation findings
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