Creating and Implementing a Community Engagement Strategy for the 2022-2027 Illinois Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan Through an Academic-State Public Health Department Partnership.

INTRODUCTION: Comprehensive cancer control (CCC) plans are state-level blueprints that identify regional cancer priorities and health equity strategies. Coalitions are encouraged to engage with community members, advocacy groups, people representing multiple sectors, and working partners throughout the development process. We describe the community and legislative engagement strategy developed and implemented during 2020-2022 for the 2022-2027 Illinois CCC plan. METHODS: The engagement strategies were grounded in theory and evidence-based tools and resources. It was developed and implemented by coalition members representing the state health department and an academic partner, with feedback from the larger coalition. The strategy included a statewide town hall, 8 focus groups, and raising awareness of the plan among state policy makers. RESULTS: A total of 112 people participated in the town hall and focus groups, including 40 (36%) cancer survivors, 31 (28%) cancer caregivers, and 18 (16%) Latino and 26 (23%) African American residents. Fourteen of 53 (26%) focus group participants identified as rural. Participants identified drivers of cancer disparities (eg, lack of a comprehensive health insurance system, discrimination, transportation access) and funding and policy priorities. Illinois House Resolution 0675, the Illinois Cancer Control Plan, was passed in March 2022. CONCLUSION: The expertise and voices of community members affected by cancer can be documented and reflected in CCC plans. CCC plans can be brought to the attention of policy makers. Other coalitions working on state plans may consider replicating our strategy. Ultimately, CCC plans should reflect health equity principles and prioritize eliminating cancer disparities.

First-Year Resident Perceptions of Virtual Interviewing.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Virtual interviews (VI) for residency programs present a relatively new paradigm for recruitment. To date, studies have been small, largely descriptive, and focused on surgical and subspecialty areas. The purpose of the study was to assess residents' perceptions about their VI experience and to compare those in primary care versus non-primary care specialties. METHODS: An electronic survey was sent to 35 designated institutional officials in Illinois with a resulting snowball sample to assess first-year residents' perceptions of their virtual interviewing experience. A total of 82 postgraduate year-1 residents responded to the survey. We used descriptive analysis and χ2 tests to analyze results. RESULTS: Respondents were mostly female (52.4%), White (79%), non-Hispanic (76%), attending a university residency program (76.3%), and in a primary care specialty (61.7%). In general, most respondents (54.8%-75.3%) felt their VI accurately portrayed their residency program experience. Resident morale, resident-faculty camaraderie, and educational opportunities were perceived as being best portrayed in the VI. Compared to non-primary care residents, primary care residents felt that their program's VI more accurately portrayed the patient population served (P=.0184), resident morale in the program (P=.0038), and the overall residency experience (P=.0102). Still, 25.7% of respondents felt they were not accurately represented in the VI. CONCLUSIONS: Respondents reported that the VI portrays the residency experience fairly well, yet there is opportunity to improve the overall experience. The more difficult experiences to convey (morale, camaraderie, and the overall resident experience) may be areas in which primary care programs are outpacing other training programs.

COVID-19 Vaccine Attitudes and Barriers among Unvaccinated Residents in Rural Northern/Central Illinois.

Background: Rural communities have lower COVID-19 vaccine uptake and poorer health outcomes compared to non-rural communities, including in rural, northern/central Illinois. Understanding community perceptions about vaccination is critical for developing targeted responses to improve vaccine uptake in rural communities and meet global vaccination targets. Purpose: This study examines COVID-19 vaccine attitudes and barriers as well as the impact of COVID-19 on specific health behaviors of residents in rural northern/central Illinois to inform efforts to increase vaccine uptake. Methods: In collaboration with community partners and local health departments, we conducted a 54-item, English-language, online questionnaire from Feb 11 to March 22, 2021; the questionnaire included the COVID behavioral questionnaire scale (CoBQ), as well as questions on intention to vaccinate, vaccination attitudes, and barriers to vaccine access. Descriptive and bivariate analyses assessed participant differences based on intention to vaccinate. Results: Most unvaccinated survey respondents (n = 121) were White (89.3%) and female (78.5%), with an average age of 52.3±14.1 years. Lack of intention to vaccinate was negatively associated with trust in the science behind vaccine development (P = .040), belief in the safety of the vaccine (P = .005) and belief that the vaccine was needed (P=.050). CoBQ scores of respondents who intended to get vaccinated differed significantly from those who did not (P<.001), showing a greater negative impact of COVID-19 on engaging in health behaviors for vaccine-hesitant participants. Conclusion: Study findings show mistrust of science and lack of confidence in vaccine safety are barriers to vaccination in rural northern Illinois residents. Similar results have been reported in low- and middle-income countries.