Using the health belief model to assess racial/ethnic disparities in cancer-related behaviors in an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center catchment area

Engaging Communities in Cancer Prevention and Control Activity Prioritization through a Statewide Needs Assessment: A Case Study from Nebraska

Community outreach and engagement (COE) activities are important in identifying catchment area needs, communicating these needs, and facilitating activities relevant to the population. The National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers are required to conduct catchment-wide cancer needs assessments as part of their COE activities. The University of Nebraska Medical Center Buffett Cancer Center undertook a three-year-long process to conduct a needs assessment, identify priorities, and develop workgroups to implement cancer prevention and control activities. Activities were conducted through collaborations with internal and external partners. The needs assessment focused on prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancer and involved secondary data analysis and focus groups with identified underrepresented priority populations (rural, African American, Hispanic, Native American, and LGBTQ+ populations). Results were tailored and disseminated to specific audiences via internal and external reports, infographics, and presentations. Several workgroups were developed through meetings with the internal and external partners to address identified priorities. COE-specific initiatives and metrics have been incorporated into University of Nebraska Medical Center and Buffett Cancer Center strategic plans. True community engagement takes a focused effort and significant resources. A systemic and long-term approach is needed to develop trusted relationships between the COE team and its local communities.

Examining the Role of the Health Belief Model Framework in Achieving Diversity and Equity in Organ Donation Among South Asians in the United Kingdom

Organ donation continues to be low among ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom (UK), especially within the South Asian community, with a disproportionate number of patients of South Asian ethnicity awaiting organ transplants. In 2020/21, Minority Ethnic (ME) patients comprised almost a third of the national transplant waiting list, highlighting the continued imbalance between the need for transplants in South Asian communities and the availability of suitable organs. Median waiting times for transplants show that, generally, white patients wait less time than ME patients; Only 39.5% of ME families consented to proceed with deceased organ donation when approached compared to 69% of white families. How to increase awareness among the South Asian community on the scarcity of organ donors continues to be a growing challenge facing the healthcare system in the UK and globally. This article reflects on the education strategy implemented using the Health Belief Model. It provides a detailed framework with which to consider the rationale that led to a specific behaviour, in this case organ donation among the three major ethnicities (i.e., Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi) within the South Asian community as part of a single study.

Cancer-related information behavior among black and hispanics in an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center catchment

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to better understand health behaviors, particularly health information seeking, and how this impacts cancer care within underserved minority populations in a specific catchment area in Florida.

METHODS

We conducted an analysis of survey data from a 2019 community health survey conducted by the Moffit Cancer Center (MCC). We utilized the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking (CMIS) as a framework and performed structural equation modeling (SEM) and related statistical analyses.

RESULTS

Our findings confirm that characteristics and demographics present a positive relationship to Online Health Information Seeking (OHIS). We also found that Utility had a negative significant relationship to OHIS.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that the CMIS is a useful framework for studying cancer-related information seeking, and that when properly executed in the confines of a study, can lend itself to in-depth statistical analyses as found in SEM.

IMPLICATIONS

The SEM revealed the CMIS to be promising with results in our analysis worthy of further investigation of cancer care and healthcare information access considering undeserved and minority populations.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Models such as the CMIS can be useful for understanding information seeking behaviors and to design information and communication interventions to improve access and health outcomes.