Integrating Cancer Control Referrals and Navigators Into United Way 211 Missouri

For Americans living in poverty, cancer prevention and screening is a lower priority than meeting basic needs. When basic needs are addressed, the likelihood of engaging in these preventive behaviors increases. Strategies to eliminate cancer disparities in disadvantaged populations must recognize and address this fundamental challenge. We propose the first-ever cancer communication research partnership with United Way 2-1-1, a telephone information and referral system reaching millions of low-income and minority Americans every year and connecting them to locally available resources that can meet their basic needs. By proactively linking these callers to evidence-based cancer control services available for free in their community, cancer disparities could be reduced.

The proposed study will:

• estimate the prevalence of need for cancer screening and prevention in a population of 211 callers;
• determine whether cancer communication interventions delivered through 211 can increase use of breast, cervical and colon cancer screening, HPV vaccination, smoking cessation and adoption of smoke free home policies;
• determine how intensive an intervention is needed to bring about these changes; and
• determine whether the effectiveness of these interventions is enhanced when callers' basic needs have been addressed. Connecting these systems - 211, clinical and community cancer control programs and navigation services - should benefit disadvantaged Americans. The proposed study will evaluate the effects of this approach to eliminating cancer disparities.

Objectives:

Study group assignment -- By random assignment they will then receive either:

• Tailored Cancer Communication to help them act on the cancer control referral they received;
• A Cancer Control Navigator to help them overcome obstacles to obtaining needed cancer control services;
• Cancer Control Phone Referral Only; or,
• No intervention control

The study aims are to:

• Estimate the prevalence of need for cancer screening and prevention in a population of 211 callers and compare these rates to population data from Missouri and the U.S.
• Evaluate effects of Tailored Cancer Communication (T), Cancer Control Navigation (N), Cancer Control Phone Referral Only (P) on use of cancer control services in a randomized trial among 211 callers.

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years of age or older
• caller to 211 who was randomly allocated to one of two study-specific information specialists
• resident of Missouri
• calling for unmet needs for self

Exclusion criteria

• calling on behalf of client or other person