Community Engagement Model to Match Psychosocial Health Needs

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Health Communication

Background:

• Older adults affected by cancer and their caregivers often lack accessible psychosocial support services.
• Effective community engagement (CE) is crucial for disseminating information about available health resources.
• Previous CE efforts may lack standardized models, leading to inconsistent outreach and impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a replicable model from community engagement process data to guide future CE initiatives.
• To inform older adults with cancer and their family caregivers about a national telephone helpline for psychosocial support.
• To establish a framework for standardizing CE to address focused health problems.

Main Methods:

• Community-based participatory research (CBPR) was employed to engage target populations.
• A purposeful sampling strategy across eight cancer clusters in the northeastern U.S. was utilized.
• A general inductive approach was used to analyze data from information sessions, health fairs, events, and media outreach.

Main Results:

• A four-phase model for initiating community engagement was developed.
• An estimated 200,500 individuals were reached through various CE activities.
• Two significant roadblocks to effective CE were identified and strategies for resolution were discussed.

Conclusions:

• The developed four-phase model provides a standardized guide for health professionals in community engagement.
• This model enhances the dissemination of information on psychosocial cancer services to vulnerable populations.
• Effective CE strategies are essential for addressing health disparities and improving access to care.