Implementation Evaluation of Three Community-Clinical Infection-Related Cancer Prevention and Control Programs in New York City: Lessons Learned From Leveraging Community Health Worker Strategies to Enhance Reach and Fit for Asian American Communities

Abstract

Background

Community health workers (CHW) can perform unique functions to facilitate the implementation of evidence-based interventions for infection-related cancer prevention and control, and alleviate minoritized and immigration-related disparities.

Purpose

We describe the implementation evaluation of three CHW-delivered infection-related cancer programs focused on Asian American (AA) communities in New York City: 1) a H. pylori treatment adherence program for Chinese and Korean Americans; 2) a HPV screening program for Muslim Americans; and 3) a hepatitis B screening, linkage to care, and treatment program for AA and other priority communities.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured key informant interviews with multi-level stakeholders from the programs.

Results

Lessons learned include the importance of: 1) sustaining engagement and buy-in from implementation partners; 2) prioritizing recipient- and deliverer-centeredness; 3) fostering program flexibility to accommodate multiple implementation settings and to meet dynamic community resources and priorities; and 4) understanding interoperability between the CHW-delivered intervention and the inner setting for effective program implementation.

Conclusions

These findings can inform other efforts to implement CHW-delivered community-clinical cancer programs for AA and other underserved communities to advance health equity.