Abstract A055: Pearls and pitfalls of implementing a patient navigation training workshop for Appalachia Free

The Appalachian region includes 13 states, ranging from southern New York to Mississippi. The region encompasses large areas experiencing high unemployment rates, poverty, and high rates of chronic disease, including cancer. Patient navigation (PN) is a patient-centered intervention designed to address barriers to timely cancer screening and treatment. Results of a prior project in the region indicated that existing PN training programs did not adequately address issues specific to working in Appalachia. To address this gap, we developed a culturally relevant PN training program to be delivered across the Appalachian region. We supported and delivered 20 trainings to over 300 participants from 2015 through the present, averaging 15 attendees per session. Participants included nurses, social workers, patient navigators, community health workers, and administrators living and working in Appalachia. The training's focus on integrating the unique aspects of Appalachian culture into patient navigation for cancer screening and care was rated high by participants. Additionally, participants appreciated the opportunity to network, since many participants work in isolation. Despite our model of providing multiple trainings in various locations throughout Appalachia, we noted there were still barriers to attendance. We conducted a formative evaluation to understand the challenges and identify solutions. We spent considerable time focusing on curricula development, but more attention was needed for detailed logistical considerations such as 1) earlier engagement of local community resources, including potential barriers to attending workshops and 2) local assistance in selecting training sites that would attract maximum attendance. Application of the guiding concepts in planning and data describing the workshop locations, participants, and evaluation results will be presented.

Citation Format: Mark Dignan, Sharon Dwyer, Elizabeth Rohan, Dana White, Georgina Castro, Reda Wilson, Eric Stockton. Pearls and pitfalls of implementing a patient navigation training workshop for Appalachia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr A055.