Population Health Assessment

by the University of Arizona Cancer Center

This assessment is a 1-hr survey administered to adults living in Southern Arizona, so researchers can better understand how to better screen, prevent, and treat cancer at the local level.

Introduction

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Arizona. Because of this, it is crucial for programs to be developed at the local level, to help at-risk populations better manage and prevent cancer in the communities they reside. The University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) is distributing a Population Health Assessment (PHA) survey to residents of the 5 southernmost counties in Arizona: Pima, Yuma, Pinal, Cochise, and Santa Cruz. The purpose is to help researchers and community partners better understand the health status of the local community. Researchers will use survey data to identify ways to improve cancer screening, prevention, and treatment at the local level.

Qualifications & Study Phases

Qualifications

Adult 18 years or older
Resides in Southern Arizona counties
English and/or Spanish speaking
Only 1 person per household

Phase I

A survey online, over the phone, or in-person will be conducted in English or Spanish.
The survey will take about 1 hour.
After survey completion, participants will receive a $25 gift card.
A maximum of 5,000 people will participate over 5 years.

Phase II

Select participants from Phase I will be invited to a focus group or one-on-one interview online or in-person in English or Spanish.
This will take approximately 90 minutes.
After the session is concluded, participants will receive another $25 gift card.
A maximum of 200 people will participate over 5 years.

Background

The Population Health Assessment Survey is part of a National Institute of Health (NIH) initiative to conduct research to better characterize the populations and communities within the NCI-designated cancer center catchment areas. Our catchment area includes Pima, Yuma, Cochise, Pinal and Santa Cruz counties in Arizona. This opportunity aims to enhance the Cancer Centers capacity to use data from this assessment to plan, coordinate, and enhance activities related to cancer prevention and control.

Significance

Living with cancer is not easy for anyone. However, it can be extremely difficult for certain populations to access cancer-related services based on outside influences described in the social determinants of health (SDH). The Social Determinants of Health are economic and social conditions in which an individual was born into that affect their health, quality of life and life expectancy. Addressing SDH in Arizona is essential to better understand ways to better screen, prevent and treat cancer, specifically for underrepresented groups. This study will investigate the areas of Cochise, Pinal, Pima, Santa Cruz and Yuma counties in Southern Arizona. The PHA will help researchers better understand the conditions these communities live in, and will utilize this data to better screen, prevent and treat cancer for those living in these areas.

Specific Aims and Goals

Aim – Our aim is to facilitate communication and collaboration between local healthcare providers/practitioners, government institutions, nonprofit’s organizations, University researchers and NIH researchers. Data collected during this study will be used to create and refine specific cancer prevention and control efforts that are beneficial to the community. By investigating these local health disparities, University researchers can report community priorities when addressing cancer and cancer prevention.  

Short term goals- Support local research by characterizing the population and community more accurately through a population health assessment in Cochise, Pinal, Pima, Santa-Cruz, and Yuma counties. This study envisions building a foundation of service by defining, understanding, and evaluating community health needs with community partners and University researchers.

Long term goals- Develop a study-model that adapts to the population's needs as it changes over time through future PHA research and program implementation. We envision to continuously streamline this information to community partners and University researchers for future investigation, intervention, and program implementation to better screen, prevent and treat cancer. 

If you are interested in learning more, please email cancerpha@arizona.edu or call 520-389-6919 and ask for the Population Health Assessment.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Cynthia Thomson, Ph.D., RD

Project Coordinator: Nikki Regalado, MPH, CHES

In collaboration with the Population Science and Community Outreach and Engagement teams at the University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC).