State and historically black colleges and universities' collaboration to improve cancer care to underserved populations.
One in every two men and one in every three women in North Carolina will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Cancer is a leading cause of death for ethnic minority populations in North Carolina. The impact on cancer patients, on their families, and on their communities is immeasurable. The burden of cancer in ethnic minority communities can be better addressed if proven advances in prevention, early detection, and care are made available. Historically black colleges and universities (HBCLUs) can play a major role in assisting state governments understand the health needs and health-care delivery preferences of underserved populations. This paper describes these major roles as collaborations between four HBCUs and the state of North Carolina. Recommendations that address improving access to cancer services in the African-American, Hispanic, and American Indian communities are presented.
School of Nursing, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USA. lhharris@nccu.edu
Lorna H
LH
Harris
Theodore
T
Parrish
Nosa
N
Obano
Beverly
B
Downing
Nancy
N
Mcallister
D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D002423:Cause of Death; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000208:ethnology; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D016730:Program Development; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013219:State Government; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014495:Universities / Q000458:organization & administration*