From OncoLog, June 2007, Vol. 52, No. 6
Project FAROS Enrolling Local Hispanics in Study of Health Care Access
M. D. Anderson will soon provide up to 4,000 members of the Hispanic community with information and guidance on health care resources in an effort to identify barriers to and improve the use of services for cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment.
Researchers in the Center for Research on Minority Health (CRMH) in the Department of Health Disparities Research at M. D. Anderson have initiated the Facilitated Assistance, Research and Outreach Services demonstration project, Project FAROS (“faros” means “beacon of light” in Spanish). Project FAROS is funded by a $5.4 million grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
“Hispanics are the fastest growing minority population in the United States and Texas,” said Lovell A. Jones, Ph.D., director of the CRMH and lead project investigator. “Because many Hispanics face financial and accessibility obstacles in gaining screening and treatment services, we are delighted to provide much needed assistance in the hopes of reducing health disparities in this population.”
Project FAROS will recruit participants from a number of sites, including local community centers and M. D. Anderson outpatient clinics. Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire on cancer screening habits, general demographic information, and cancer history. Participants will then be randomly assigned to one of two groups.
One group will receive printed information on health care resources and be assigned a “navigator,” who will contact them to assess their individual health care needs. These bilingual navigators are trained to simplify the health care process by translating complex medical information into understandable language and providing step-by-step instructions on accessing health care services, including financial assistance and care coordination.
The second group will receive printed information but not navigation services.
“This study will allow us to determine the effectiveness of using a navigator for people who are unfamiliar with health care services and processes,” Dr. Jones said. “Previous studies have indicated that providing guided assistance can diminish fears and facilitate a smoother experience.” However, few of these studies have been evidence-based.
To be eligible for the study, potential participants must live within the 12 counties that surround M. D. Anderson and be Hispanic, at least 40 years old, and enrolled in both Medicare A and B.
In addition, participants must be cancer-free or, if previously treated for cancer, have been in remission for at least five years. Patients who have been diagnosed with breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer within the past two months but have not begun treatment may still be eligible for the study.
Physicians who would like to refer a patient to Project FAROS can call Sulema A. Luna, R.N., at (713) 563-2724 or Dr. Jones at (713) 563-2764. Potential participants who are interested in learning more about Project FAROS can call (713) 563-6288 or send an e-mail to faros@mdanderson.org.For more information on this topic or for questions about M. D. Anderson’s treatments, programs, or services, call askMDAnderson at (877) MDA-6789.
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