Population Health Assessment in NCI-Designated Cancer Center Catchment Areas

Abstract

In May 2016, the NCI announced supplemental funding for NCI-Designated Cancer Centers to conduct research to better characterize populations within cancer center catchment areas. The initiative was intended to support primary data collection efforts to better define and describe cancer center catchment areas using a multilevel population health framework. The long-term goal was to facilitate collaborations in which researchers, providers, public health practitioners, and nonprofit organizations could utilize the data to develop or expand applied cancer control research, planning, and implementation, with an emphasis on local health disparities and communication inequalities. This CEBP Focus issue on "Population Health Assessment in Cancer Center Catchment Areas" highlights the results from those catchment area data collection efforts. Articles highlight research from surveys conducted to define and describe cancer center catchment areas using both probability and nonprobability designs and a variety of sampling techniques, survey modes, and data linkages. Some articles report pooled analyses of data collected by multiple cancer centers to highlight local versus national comparisons based on standardized behavioral and demographic measures. Others examine rural-urban differences in measures relevant to cancer prevention and control. The studies published in this Focus will provide the field with a myriad of methodologic approaches for defining and describing cancer center catchment areas.

Effect of Neighborhood and Individual-Level Socioeconomic Factors on Colorectal Cancer Screening Adherence

“…This study sample was identified from the 1000 participants in the Population Health Assessment in Cancer Center Catchment Areas (PHA) study (IRB#17-8005) [ 29 ], a National Cancer Institute effort to support survey development using nationally validated instruments [ 30 ], data collection, and data linkage efforts that could help define and describe underserved cancer center populations across the US [ 29 ]. For this effort, a variety of sampling approaches were supported to capture often-understudied populations [ 29 ]. At the center of the Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC) catchment area of southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey is Philadelphia.…”

OPTIK: a database for understanding catchment areas to guide mobilization of cancer center assets

“…Data-driven solutions are part of the future of healthcare operations and can be part of the solution to inform outreach and research priorities ( 16 ). The KU Cancer Center’s goal is to use data available in OPTIK to summarize the trends and metrics of its bi-state catchment population without having to rely on national trends to influence policy decisions ( 17 , 18 ). This paper outlines the need for and the process of data consolidation and visualization building at the core of OPTIK’s key functions.…”

Towards precision public health: Geospatial analytics and sensitivity/specificity assessments to inform liver cancer prevention

“…Thus, current recommendations for liver cancer prevention focus on targeting high risk, minority populations including: Hispanics, Blacks, and those born between 1950 and 1959 who are at risk for HCV infection ( Petrick, Kelly, Altekruse, McGlynn, & Rosenberg, 2016 ). As a result, U.S. cancer centers, who are often tasked with implementing cost-effective educational and behavioral interventions for liver cancer prevention, commonly utilize publically-available neighborhood demographic data from the U.S. Census to identify these vulnerable communities in their catchment—defined as the neighborhoods where their patients reside ( Blake, Ciolino, & Croyle, 2019 ). Neighborhood data is used because studies suggest an individual’s demographics are similar to the neighborhood in which they live, particularly at smaller geographic areas ( Tunstall, 2005 ).…”