Evaluation of Community-Based Projects to Reduce Cancer Disparities among Underrepresented Groups and Participants Satisfaction in Health Disparities Projects

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. The objectives of this study were to evaluate cancer prevention programs and participants satisfaction in 51 disparities projects in Florida. This three-phase evaluation included evaluability assessment, process, immediate outcome and impact evaluation using qualitative assessment, case study, document analysis, face-to-face interviews, and survey. In 2006-2007, a total of 3,165, and in 2008-2009, a total of 1,632 individuals participated in the programs respectively. In breast and cervical cancer prevention programs, change of proportion of African-American and Haitian recruitment significantly increased from 2006-2008 to 2007-2009 (-11.3 to 3.4). Among other services, all means of outreach such as mobile vans, faith-based activities, health fairs, and small-group education sessions also increased by 5.3%, 7.9%, 5.5%, and 9.4% respectively. In participants' satisfaction the majority of respondents (N=231) were 35-54 years old (46.7%), non-Hispanic Black (81.7%), female (70.3%), high school and some college educated (58.8%), and with income less than $25,000 (65.5%). The majority of the participants were very satisfied with the program staff's training, cultural sensitivity, language skills, resources, education materials, referral system, and changing behavior (mean score: 4.5-4.7) and with the overall project and the project's role in improving their quality of life.