Exploring the role of community health workers in providing cancer navigation: perceptions of African American older adults.

Authors: Wenzel J, Jones R, Klimmek R, Szanton S, Krumm S.

Cancer outcomes are unequally distributed across racial and ethnic groups, with minorities experiencing worse outcomes, particularly in overall survival. Several groups have recommended employing community health workers (CHWs) to help eliminate disparities. By identifying and addressing barriers to adherence to cancer screening or treatment recommendations and working with patients to negotiate tailored plans of care, CHWs have improved care access and cancer screening behaviors, as well as reduced healthcare costs in minority communities, including Black and Hispanic communities. This article discusses older cancer survivors’ perceptions of and recommendations on the role of CHWs in providing a cancer navigation intervention. Themes and accompanying categories identified were uneasiness surrounding the CHW role, recommendations to adequately address cancer needs, and the importance of individualized interventions. Study findings can be helpful to researchers and to healthcare providers engaged in assisting older African Americans during cancer diagnosis and treatment. The results lay a foundation for developing culturally appropriate interventions to assist this at-risk population.