TY - JOUR
T1 - Addressing cervical cancer disparities in Texas
T2 - Expansion of a community-based prevention initiative for medically underserved populations
AU - Batman, Samantha H.
AU - Varon, Melissa L.
AU - Daheri, Maria
AU - Ogburn, Tony
AU - Rivas, Saul D.
AU - Guerra, Laura
AU - Toscano, Paul A.
AU - Gasca, Monica
AU - Campos, Lori
AU - Foster, Savanah
AU - Martin, Melissa
AU - Yvette Williams-Brown, Marian
AU - Poindexter, Yvette
AU - Reininger, Belinda
AU - Salcedo, Mila P.
AU - Milbourne, Andrea
AU - Fellman, Bryan
AU - Fernandez, Maria E.
AU - Baker, Ellen
AU - Gowen, Rose
AU - Fisher-Hoch, Susan
AU - Rodriguez, Ana M.
AU - Milan, Jessica
AU - Pippin, Monica
AU - Hawk, Ernest
AU - Schmeler, Kathleen M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Although cervical cancer is preventable, significant disparities exist in access to screening and prevention services. In medically underserved areas (MUAs) of Texas, these rates are 55% higher compared to the remainder of the US. In 2019, we expanded a multicomponent, comprehensive program to improve cervical cancer prevention in partnership with 13 clinics and mobile vans in MUAs of Texas. Our multicomponent intervention program consists of community education and patient navigation coupled with a training/mentoring program for local medical providers to perform diagnostic procedures and treatment for patients with abnormal screening results. Hands-on training courses to learn these skills are coupled with biweekly telementoring conferences using Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes). This program was implemented in 2015 and expanded to other MUAs in Texas in 2019. From March 2019 to August 2022, 75,842 individuals were educated about cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination. A total of 44,781 women underwent screening for cervical cancer, and 2,216 underwent colposcopy and 264 underwent LEEP. High-grade cervical dysplasia was diagnosed in 658 individuals and invasive cervical cancer in 33 individuals. We trained 22 providers to perform colposcopy and/or LEEP. In addition, 78 Project ECHO telementoring sessions were held with an average of 42 attendees per session, with 72 individual patient cases discussed. Our comprehensive community-based prevention initiative for medically underserved populations has led to a significant number of individuals undergoing cervical cancer screening in MUAs, as well as improved access to colposcopy and LEEP services.
AB - Although cervical cancer is preventable, significant disparities exist in access to screening and prevention services. In medically underserved areas (MUAs) of Texas, these rates are 55% higher compared to the remainder of the US. In 2019, we expanded a multicomponent, comprehensive program to improve cervical cancer prevention in partnership with 13 clinics and mobile vans in MUAs of Texas. Our multicomponent intervention program consists of community education and patient navigation coupled with a training/mentoring program for local medical providers to perform diagnostic procedures and treatment for patients with abnormal screening results. Hands-on training courses to learn these skills are coupled with biweekly telementoring conferences using Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes). This program was implemented in 2015 and expanded to other MUAs in Texas in 2019. From March 2019 to August 2022, 75,842 individuals were educated about cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination. A total of 44,781 women underwent screening for cervical cancer, and 2,216 underwent colposcopy and 264 underwent LEEP. High-grade cervical dysplasia was diagnosed in 658 individuals and invasive cervical cancer in 33 individuals. We trained 22 providers to perform colposcopy and/or LEEP. In addition, 78 Project ECHO telementoring sessions were held with an average of 42 attendees per session, with 72 individual patient cases discussed. Our comprehensive community-based prevention initiative for medically underserved populations has led to a significant number of individuals undergoing cervical cancer screening in MUAs, as well as improved access to colposcopy and LEEP services.
KW - Cervical cancer prevention
KW - Community interventions
KW - Disparities
KW - Implementation science
KW - Public health
KW - Screening
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85175564522&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85175564522&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102486
DO - 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102486
M3 - Article
C2 - 38021412
AN - SCOPUS:85175564522
SN - 2211-3355
VL - 36
JO - Preventive Medicine Reports
JF - Preventive Medicine Reports
M1 - 102486
ER -