Improving Cancer Screening and Prevention During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Underserved Populations of Rhode Island
- Conditions
- Breast CancerCovid19Colorectal Cancer
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Informational videos and social media campaigns encouraging cancer screening.
- Registration Number
- NCT04587258
- Lead Sponsor
- Rhode Island Hospital
- Brief Summary
Lifespan Cancer Institute serves over 50% of cancer patients in the state. Rhode Island is known for strong medical care and high rates of cancer screening with mammography and colonoscopy. However, cancer screening has plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic, in part to closing physician offices and stopping non-urgent medical procedures. In addition, anecdotal reports suggest the public remains concerned about returning to physician's offices and risking possible exposure to COVID-19. As in the United States as a whole, COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted ethnic and minority individuals within underserved communities; and in Rhode Island, African Americans, Hispanics and undocumented individuals living in communities such as Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence, East Providence and North Providence have had the highest rate of COVID-19. These communities are also impacted by healthcare disparities to access and affordability of healthcare, and as such, may be among the least likely to resume cancer screening.
The Lifespan Cancer Institute will institute a project to address health disparities in cancer screening during the pandemic through the use of a targeted campaign involving social media. The goals will be to re-establish screening in the era of COVID-19 and ensure timeliness of care for those found to be at risk, or are positive for, cancer.
- Detailed Description
This project will focus on improving breast and colorectal cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic in underserved populations of Rhode Island. The investigators will engage the Blackstone Valley Community Health Center. Dr. Don Dizon, a national leader in social media, will be a key participant.
Dr. Don Dizon is a world expert using electronic communication and social media in the oncology practice. Dr. Dizon chairs the Digital Engagement Committee for the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) a national cancer institute cooperative group. He is a co-principal investigator of an NIH grant studying electronic patient reported outcomes - the SIMPRO Research Consortium. Dr. Dizon is also head of the American Society of Oncology (ASCO) Educational Committee and is well positioned to disseminate the knowledge gathered from the current project through ASCO activities.
The initial project may be to discuss with the Blackstone Valley Community Health Center the possibility of developing short videos in multiple languages on the importance of cancer screening. The investigators will engage staff and patients of the BVCHC and the community to participate within the videos as a model of community-based participation. These informational videos could be distributed directly to the community via social media platforms. Data will be collecting on the rates of cancer screening including age, sex and race. These data could be compared to different cities within Rhode Island and the United States
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- UNKNOWN
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 100
- Increased risk of either colorectal or breast cancer
- Living in an under-served area of Rhode Island
- None
Study & Design
- Study Type
- OBSERVATIONAL
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Breast Cancer Informational videos and social media campaigns encouraging cancer screening. Subjects will be encouraged through informational videos and social media campaigns to visit their doctors to get screened for breast cancer using mammograms. Colorectal Cancer Informational videos and social media campaigns encouraging cancer screening. Subjects will be encouraged through informational videos and social media campaigns to visit their doctors to get screened for breast cancer using colonoscopies
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Impact of screening on cancer care 2 years Evaluate the impact of screening on timeliness of cancer care among these populations by comparing to the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Quality Oncology Performance Initiative (QOPI) guidelines in breast and colorectal cancer.
Increase screening rates for breast and colorectal cancer 2 years Increase screening rates for breast and colorectal cancer among underserved populations by 25% using March 9 through May 31 as a benchmark, coinciding the Executive Orders for COVID19 announced by Governor Raimondo.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Community Engagement 2 Years Evaluate strategies of engagement in these communities as it relates to:
-Social media platform (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) These metrics will be determined by social media statistics for engagement and the number of calls/queries to the designated information lines.Barriers to cancer screening during COVID19. 2 Years Evaluate barriers to cancer screening in these populations as it particularly relates to COVID19.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Blackstone Valley Community Health Center
🇺🇸Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States