Abstract B025: The Ronnie Lippin Cancer Support and Navigation Program: Serving cancer patients in culturally and language specific ways
Authors: Lopez Ghecemy , Nieves Elena , Barahona Rosa , Baezconde-Garbanati Lourdes A. 
Published: January 2023

Background: Twenty three percent of adults in Los Angeles County report difficulty in accessing medical care. This is particularly troubling when faced with cancer. Approximately 1 in 3 Latinos will face cancer in their lifetime. Yet they have the highest number of uninsured of any group. There is a lack of culturally and linguistically sensitive support for these patients confronted with a cancer diagnosis. This contributes to increasing health disparities because of lack of compliance with treatment, failure to follow up with care, lack of transportation which contribute to cancer disparity. The Ronnie Lippin Cancer Support and Navigation program at USC provides linguistic and culturally sensitive public health education and cancer information and customized evidence-based research and resources to cancer patients and caregivers living in Los Angeles County. Methods: During 2019-2021 we provided health education, cancer information and resources, patient navigation and liaison services to cancer patients in Los Angeles County. Services included explaining medical lingo using easy to understand terminology in Spanish and English. We connected patients to support groups, mental health services, nutrition, and physical activity programs and provided health and wellness related information. Also resources for wigs, housing, and welfare assistance. We helped to answer frequently asked questions about cancer treatment and accompanied patients to major medical appointments in person or remotely during the pandemic. We reminded patients of their appointments and next steps. The program provided Spanish/English bilingual services and identified resources in Korean, Mandarin and Tagalog, to meet patient needs. Results: We provided services to 383 individuals between 2019-2021. Of these, the majority were females, with most ranging between 40-64 years of age. Although the majority where of Hispanic/Latino descent, we also serviced African Americans and Asian populations. Individuals served were categorized in four groups for services: previvors (individual at risk for cancer who have genetic predispositions and are taking prophylactic actions to reduce their risk or are undergoing cancer screening tests) and survivors, in active treatment at all stages, and survivors no longer in treatment. Those in end of life or hospice care were the fourth group. Cancer types varied from lung, breast, prostate, brain, cervical, liver, uterine, testicular, and colorectal among other. Patients mostly spoke Spanish and had language challenges. Patient navigators helped patients understand treatment instructions, provided health information to support health and mental health wellness. Conclusion: The program proved to be very effective at serving patients. However, more support is needed in Mandarin for Chinese community. Marketing and outreach strategies need focus on males, Asians and African Americans to increase participation. Printed educational materials and online resources are needed in Mandarin and Korean. We provide recommendations and lessons learned.

Citation Format: Ghecemy Lopez, Elena Nieves, Rosa Barahona, Lourdes A. Baezconde-Garbanati. The Ronnie Lippin Cancer Support and Navigation Program: Serving cancer patients in culturally and language specific ways [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B025.