Cancer
Conditions
Brief summary
This research represents a pioneering effort to design a brief, cost effective and readily transportable program that will enable disadvantaged elders to become more effective participants in their health care. The intervention is expected to result in trained elders becoming more knowledgeable health care partners. Trained patients will be prepared for appointments and will engage their primary care physicians in active dialogue regarding cancer prevention and screening. Based on self-advocacy, these patients are expected to receive better preventive care and report greater satisfaction with care. Program participation can subsequently contribute to general health improvements and minimize health disparities.
Detailed description
In a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 400 older adults, the investigators will assess the efficacy of the Speak Up intervention (N=200) relative to an attention control group Connect program (N=200), aimed at enhancing social and civic engagement. Participants will now obtain resource materials that include decision aids and diary logs to bring to visits with doctors. The investigators will implement Speak Up and Connect programs in two unique study populations: 1) participants in the ongoing NCI study and 2) older adults attending senior center programs sponsored by Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). Participants will be assessed prior to the intervention and 2 month, and 12 months post intervention. The investigators will have an observation window of 12 months to determine whether and when the older adult obtained screening. The selection of a shorter follow-up time frame will help reduce attrition.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALSpeak Up
Intervention group\_treatment group
BEHAVIORALGet connected
Participants will learn to be connected with social resources in the community.
Sponsors
Case Western Reserve University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Men and women * Over the age of 65 from Area Agencies of Aging who are interested in participating
Exclusion criteria
* No exclusion
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Perception of Physician Quality Scale | one year | Perception of Physician Quality Scale(Lee & Kasper, 1998) will be used to measure patient satisfaction with physician care (p. 21). Questions include satisfaction with physician visits and satisfaction with physician knowledge of respondent's medical problems. This scale has been utilized with elderly populations (e.g. Burton et al. 2002) and has been found to be a valid and reliable (Cronbach's alpha greater than .8) measure of patient satisfaction (Lee & Kasper, 1998). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cancer Screening Recommendations | one year | Physicians would make more recommendations for cancer prevention and screening |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed