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Low-income and racial/ethnic minority populations with cancer are less likely to discuss their care preferences and more likely to have undertreated cancer symptoms as compared with more affluent and non-Hispanic white populations.
The goals of this study were to determine if community or lay health workers, non-clinical personnel who are trained to conduct specific activities, can effectively assist low-income and minority populations to overcome social determinants of health and receive high quality cancer care.
In partnership with a labor union health plan we are enrolling union members into the intervention in Chicago and Atlantic City.
Patients are randomized to a lay health worker who assist patients with discussing their preferences for care and symptoms and help to identify complications from social determinants of health that may impede evidence-based cancer care delivery or to usual oncology care.
Preliminary results show improvements in goals of care documentation and quality of life.
STUDY
U.S. National Library of Medicine
This randomized pilot clinical trial studies health care coach support in reducing acute care use and cost in patients with cancer. Health care coach support may help cancer patients to make decisions about their care that matches what is important to them with symptom management.
STUDY
Journal of Clinical Oncology
New approaches are needed to overcome low supportive care and clinical trial participation among low-income and minority adults with cancer.
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