Authors: Caitlin G Allen, Ashley Hatch, Elizabeth Hill, Suparna Qanungo, Marvella Ford, Sarah Tucker Price, LaQuisha Umemba
Fewer than half of eligible Black women are assessed for genetic cancer risk, and only 28% follow through with preventive measures. Community health workers (CHWs) can bridge the gap between health systems and the community but are often overlooked in genetic risk assessment. To address this, this study developed an online training program called KEEP IT (Keeping Each other Engaged Program via IT). 10 training modules were created with expert input and targeted CHWs working with Black women. After recruitment, 38 CHWs were eligible, and 26 completed the course. Participants showed immediate improvements in knowledge and genomics skills, but these gains were not maintained after three months. The training was well-received, particularly sessions on Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer and Family History Collection. On average, participants discussed hereditary cancer with 17 individuals three months post-training. Supporting a diverse cancer and genomics workforce can help improve early detection and health equity. This training gave CHWs valuable knowledge that they applied in their roles.
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Resource Topic: CHW training, cancer
Resource Type: Evaluation
Year: 2024
Region:
Country: United States of America
Publisher May Restrict Access: No