In their recent publication in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, investigators from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute analyzed the historical evolution of Community Outreach and Engagement initiatives at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers (NCI-DCCs). Despite efforts to address health disparities, including those affecting historically marginalized communities, such as communities disadvantaged by race, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and geographic location, disparities persist. NCI-Designated Cancer Centers, recognized by the NCI since 1971, have made community outreach and engagement a priority, but it wasn’t until 2012 that they were required to define their catchment areas and provide specific descriptions of interventions.
The investigators emphasize the importance of an intense focus on community outreach and engagement, clinical access, and health equity to ensure that everyone has access to the latest scientific advances in cancer prevention and treatment. While NCI-DCCs have achieved significant advances in scientific research, efforts to reduce disparities must be equally focused, integrated, and sustained. Initiatives, such as a program at Dana-Farber that reduced the time to cancer diagnosis for a predominantly Black community, have shown positive results in decreasing health disparities and increasing access to innovative treatments, clinical trials, and preventive services.
The authors of the study highlight the need for NCI-DCCs to engage communities most impacted and marginalized in a proactive, bidirectional manner, integrating this engagement into their research and diagnostic efforts. They recommend broadening clinical access across the spectrum of cancer services, collecting demographic data, and implementing evidence-based interventions integrated with the healthcare delivery system. Additionally, NCI-DCCs are encouraged to utilize their economic power to improve local communities through job training, educational collaborations, and health promotion, and provide healthcare education to their workforce and catchment area communities.
The review emphasizes the importance of sharing successful programs that have reduced disparities and replicating them to broaden their impact. Furthermore, the authors stress the need for NCI-DCCs to establish and implement governance policies and standards that empower patient voices and facilitate equitable decision-making for inclusion, transparency, and professional integrity. By committing to evolving their structure of community outreach and engagement and utilizing their resources to improve access to care for historically marginalized communities, NCI-Designated Cancer Centers can make a significant impact on health outcomes.
In conclusion, the investigators urge NCI-DCCs to continue expanding their efforts in community outreach and engagement to ensure that historically marginalized communities have equal opportunities to benefit from groundbreaking advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment. They emphasize that it is essential to address disparities and increase access to care for all patients, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or geographic location. By prioritizing healthcare equity and empowering patient voices, NCI-DCCs can play a vital role in advancing cancer research and treatment for all individuals.
