Evaluation of a community health worker intervention to improve adherence to therapy for non-communicable disease in Chiapas, Mexico

Abstract

: 02NCD019 Creating and implementing low literacy cancer education materials: bridging the gap in sub-Saharan Africa M. Olsen, V.E. Manzo, C. Cardenas, A. Bhatt, A. Fajardo, F. Huang, M. Jacobs, S. Kennell-Heiling, L.S. May, H. Mehrtash, K. Taylor, M. Xu; Partners In Health, Cambridge, MA/US, Stanford University, Stanford, CA/US, THE MEME Design, Cambridge, MA/US, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute / Harvard Medical School / Global Oncology, Inc., Boston, MA/US, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA/US, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, Partners In Health, Boston, MA/US, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA/US, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA/US, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA/US Program/Project Purpose: Global Oncology (GO) is a non-profit community of professionals and student volunteers helping global partners alleviate suffering through providing the highest quality cancer care. In January 2013, GO established a partnership with Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre, Malawi. In June 2013, GO initiated the development of cancer educational materials for QECH’s low-literate patient population, in collaboration with THE MEME Design in Cambridge, MA. The materials were completed in May 2014 and piloted in Malawi and Rwanda in JuneSeptember 2014. Through this project, GO aims to improve psychosocial support services and patient adherence in resource-limited settings. Structure/Method/Design: Cancer care providers at QECH identified a need for educational materials for their low-literate patient population. In order to develop a clinically relevant and culturally appropriate product, GO is working with MEME, QECH, Partners In Health (PIH) in Rwanda, and has consulted with experts throughout Boston and sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to developing the materials, GO and its partners are investigating ways to integrate the booklets into clinical protocols as a platform to better engage patients and families in the treatment process.