Lessons Learned from Implementing a Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment Program for Underserved High-Risk Men in the Community: the Prostate REACH Project

J Cancer Educ. 2016 Mar;31(1):191-7. doi: 10.1007/s13187-015-0854-8.

Abstract

Prostate cancer disproportionately affects Black men, who may also encounter barriers to participation in prostate cancer risk assessment. The Prostate Risk, Education and Assessment in the Community with Help (REACH) project was a community-based extension of a comprehensive prostate cancer risk assessment program at a comprehensive cancer center. The goals of the REACH project were the following: (1) establish a community prostate cancer risk assessment clinic, (2) conduct targeted recruitment, and (3) provide navigation services including follow-up for uninsured men. Key implementation steps included the following: (1) choosing a clinic site, (2) establishing patient access procedures, (3) establishing navigator services, (4) developing subsidy fund use guidelines, and (5) designing recruitment and promotion. Through community-based promotion, 64 men inquired about the program and 26 (41 %) participated. Of those screened, 46 % had abnormal results, and 2 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Here, we describe a unique demonstration project to implement a comprehensive prostate cancer risk assessment program in an underserved Black community and describe successes and challenges to inform future efforts to promote access to underserved men.

Keywords: African American; Community screening; Prostate cancer screening.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Early Detection of Cancer / psychology*
  • Ethnicity / education*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Learning
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Education as Topic*
  • Patient Navigation
  • Patient Selection
  • Prognosis
  • Program Evaluation
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / psychology
  • Risk Assessment
  • Vulnerable Populations / psychology*