title: Cancer care in East and Central Harlem: community partnership needs assessment.
abstract: In the largely African American and Hispanic communities of East and Central Harlem in New York City (NYC), health inequities are glaring. Mortality from cancer is 20-30 % higher than in Manhattan and 30-40 % higher than rates in the general population in NYC. Despite advances in risk assessment, early detection, treatment, and survivorship, individuals in Harlem and similar urban communities are not benefiting equally. Guided by community-based participatory research, this study serves as an important step in understanding cancer care needs and the range of factors that impact the disparate rates of cancer in East and Central Harlem. Forty individual interviews were conducted with community leaders and residents. Major themes included: need for appropriate supportive services; health care access and financial challenges; beliefs related to stigma, trust, and accountability; and the impact of the physical environment on health. Education was seen as a critical area of need and intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncological Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. tedwards11@fordham.edu
authors.forename: Tiffany A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jandorf
authors.forename: Hurdley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Freemantle
authors.forename: Jamilia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sly
authors.forename: Jennie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellison
authors.forename: Carrie R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Villagra
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaleya
authors.forename: Madrid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poultney
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Villegas
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bickell
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education*; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009519:New York City; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care