Increasing Awareness of Uterine Cancer Risks and Symptoms by Using Campaign Materials from Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer.

Uterine cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the USA. To increase knowledge among women and healthcare providers about uterine cancer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (NCCCP) partnered with the Inside Knowledge: Get The Facts About Gynecologic Cancer campaign to present facilitated discussions about uterine cancer with women and providers. After standardized training, local NCCCP grantees developed and led community-based, tailored, facilitated discussions for public participants and providers. Pre- and post-session surveys were administered to assess knowledge of risk factors, symptoms, testing, and diagnostic options for uterine cancer. Following the facilitated sessions, significantly, more public respondents identified uterine cancer risk factors (e.g., advanced age, post-menopausal status). However, they also equally identified factors not associated with uterine cancer (e.g., smoking, HPV). Non-OB/GYN provider knowledge increased, significantly for some risks and symptoms, and their confidence with relaying uterine cancer information to patients significantly increased from 51.4 to 91.0% (P < 0.0001). Relatively low proportions of OB/GYNs (19.3%), other primary care providers (46.2%), and public participants (51.8%) knew post-session that genetic testing for Lynch syndrome can help stratify women for uterine cancer risk. Participant knowledge significantly increased for some risk factors and symptoms following Inside Knowledge educational sessions; however, some knowledge gaps remained. Overall, the Inside Knowledge materials are effective for increasing uterine cancer awareness among providers and women. Additional provider education could include specific resources related to uterine cancer genetic associations, as advancements in genetic testing for all uterine cancers are currently being made.

COVID-19 Data Utilization in North Carolina: Qualitative Analysis of Stakeholder Experiences.

BACKGROUND: As the world faced the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), medical professionals, technologists, community leaders, and policy makers sought to understand how best to leverage data for public health surveillance and community education. With this complex public health problem, North Carolinians relied on data from state, federal, and global health organizations to increase their understanding of the pandemic and guide decision-making. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe the role that stakeholders involved in COVID-19-related data played in managing the pandemic in North Carolina. The study investigated the processes used by organizations throughout the state in using, collecting, and reporting COVID-19 data. METHODS: We used an exploratory qualitative study design to investigate North Carolina's COVID-19 data collection efforts. To better understand these processes, key informant interviews were conducted with employees from organizations that collected COVID-19 data across the state. We developed an interview guide, and open-ended semistructured interviews were conducted during the period from June through November 2020. Interviews lasted between 30 and 45 minutes and were conducted by data scientists by videoconference. Data were subsequently analyzed using qualitative data analysis software. RESULTS: Results indicated that electronic health records were primary sources of COVID-19 data. Often, data were also used to create dashboards to inform the public or other health professionals, to aid in decision-making, or for reporting purposes. Cross-sector collaboration was cited as a major success. Consistency among metrics and data definitions, data collection processes, and contact tracing were cited as challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that, during future outbreaks, organizations across regions could benefit from data centralization and data governance. Data should be publicly accessible and in a user-friendly format. Additionally, established cross-sector collaboration networks are demonstrably beneficial for public health professionals across the state as these established relationships facilitate a rapid response to evolving public health challenges.

Using Inside Knowledge Campaign Materials to Improve Gynecologic Cancer Knowledge in Underserved Women.

Purpose: About 30,000 U.S. women die each year from gynecologic cancer, which disproportionately affects underserved and minority populations. This project aimed at increasing and assessing awareness of risk, symptoms, and recommended screenings and prevention activities in underserved women, through unique collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Inside Knowledge (IK) campaign, which was designed to educate women about gynecologic cancer, and the CDC's national network of organizations to reduce cancer-related disparities. Materials and Methods: CDC's national network and the IK campaign partnered to deliver tailored educational sessions about gynecologic cancer to three populations of women served by the participant organizations. Participant organizations included the National Behavioral Health Network (NBHN), Nuestras Voces (NV), and SelfMade. Pre- and post-session questionnaires were administered to assess knowledge changes. Results: Knowledge changes for risk factors, screening, and HPV vaccination varied by network organization, but all sessions increased correct identification of some symptoms. Baseline knowledge also varied among organization participants. Conclusions: Sessions were effective in increasing awareness of gynecologic cancer among underserved women; however, organizational information uptake differed. Additional resources containing specific interventions appropriate to particular underserved populations may be beneficial in increasing healthy behaviors, leading to a reduction in gynecologic cancer disparities.