Objective: The objective of this initiative was to assess the impact of targeted educational interventions on addressing health disparities in cancer care, particularly among racial and ethnic underserved populations. The aim was to empower healthcare practitioners with practical strategies for promoting race-conscious medicine, improving treatment access, and reducing disparities in oncology care.
Methods: The study utilized a series of four 45-minute webcasts as educational interventions, focusing on empowering healthcare practitioners with practical strategies for addressing disparities in oncology care. Surveys were administered to learners before and after the webcasts to measure changes in confidence, knowledge, and competence. Follow-up surveys at 90 days, including a control group, were conducted to assess the lasting impacts of the interventions.
Results: The results showed promising improvements in learner knowledge, confidence, and competence. There was a notable increase in knowledge and confidence among learners, particularly in distinguishing between poor adherence due to motivational issues versus social drivers of health. Additionally, learners demonstrated greater competence in advocating for structural changes to mitigate care disparities. Feedback indicated that the interventions not only enhanced understanding of disparities across different cancer types but also empowered healthcare practitioners to implement practice changes aimed at reducing disparities and improving outcomes in cancer care.
Conclusions: This initiative highlights the benefits of focused educational programs in improving health care equity. The findings demonstrate that with the right tools and knowledge, healthcare practitioners can affect significant changes in the management of cancer treatment among historically underserved populations. Insights from this initiative can inform the development and implementation of similar educational programs in other healthcare organizations, ultimately contributing to the reduction of health disparities and improvement of cancer care outcomes for underserved populations.
Learning Objectives:
Identify insights into how targeted educational activities can enhance knowledge and competence to address racial and ethnic disparities in cancer care.
Evaluate the educational design of ongoing, continuous education on measurable improvements in confidence and competence in mitigating disparities in cancer care.
Explore feedback on practical strategies that are effective in promoting race-conscious medicine and improving access to treatment, leading to enhanced health care equity.
