Getting Ahead for Cancer Control

A new, practical program, entitled Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin'-By World, provides a novel approach to addressing this previously intractable problem. During the progression through the Getting Ahead program, individuals develop an understanding of the hidden rules of economic class and have an opportunity to craft a hopeful future story based on the practical concepts investigated in the modules. Getting Ahead has shown great success in various organizations and communities in multiple sectors, including healthcare, but has not been studied in the context of advancing cancer prevention and control.

Completed

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Key information

Conditions

Cancer Prevention

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States

About this study

The study team hypothesizes that the Getting Ahead program, applied in safety net practices with primary care patients living in poverty, will improve cancer prevention and early detection activities, mediated by a shift in future orientation gained through the program.

This pilot study aims to adapt, apply, and evaluate the established Getting Ahead program in a health care setting and assess its effect on cancer prevention and early detection activities for vulnerable populations. By generating process and outcome data on a novel intervention to help people advance out of poverty, this research will set the stage for larger intervention studies, and also will advance understanding of the mechanisms by which growing a future orientation can improve cancer preventive service delivery among vulnerable populations.

Specifically, this study aims to:

Implement Getting Ahead among cohorts of patients at a network of safety net practices.
Assess the paradigm shift in developing a future orientation associated with participation in the Getting Ahead program.
Evaluate the effect of the Getting Ahead program and its associated paradigm shift on graduates' cancer prevention and early detection activities.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Interest and willingness to commit to the 8 week Getting Ahead training program that will occur over 16 sessions occurring twice a week
Willingness to commit to follow-up with his/her primary care provider after completion of the Getting Ahead training program
Willingness to be randomized to an immediate or delayed (by 8 weeks) start date
Ability to speak English

Exclusion criteria

There are no exclusion criteria

Treatment and study plan

Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin'-By World

Behavioral

The Getting Ahead program is a unique welldeveloped program that allows carefully guided introspection toward the crafting of tailored solutions aimed at addressing complex social determinants of health among individuals living in vulnerable populations where the achievement of health equity often seems unattainable. The important lens of health equity is a key component of this proposal and is consistent with the American Cancer Society overarching emphasis on reduction of health disparities and achievement of health equity.

Primary outcomes

Change in composite score of cancer prevention

Time frame: From baseline up to 3 years

Change in composite score of cancer prevention based on changes in cognition, intention and behavior regarding tobacco reduction, fruit and vegetable consumption, and physical activity; Immunizations for human papillomavirus (HPV) or hepatitis B; Age/sex appropriate use of Pap tests, mammograms, stool tests, endoscopy or imaging studies for colorectal cancer

Secondary outcomes

Change in composite score of progress toward a future orientation

Time frame: From baseline up to 3 years

change in composite scores based on 11 resource areas with a score ranging from 1-5 (total scores ranging from 11-55 with 55 being the most stable score). The score indicates the level of stability

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2017
Primary completion: 2020
Study completion: 2020
First posted: Aug 14, 2017
Registry last updated: Apr 20, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed