Cancer Prevention and Care Among Aged

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
This research represents a pioneering effort to design a brief, cost effective and readily transportable program that will enable disadvantaged elders to become more effective participants in their health care. The intervention is expected to result in trained elders becoming more knowledgeable health care partners. Trained patients will be prepared for appointments and will engage their primary care physicians in active dialogue regarding cancer prevention and screening. Based on self-advocacy, these patients are expected to receive better preventive care and report greater satisfaction with care. Program participation can subsequently contribute to general health improvements and minimize health disparities.

Detailed Description
-----------------
In a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 400 older adults, the investigators will assess the efficacy of the Speak Up intervention (N=200) relative to an attention control group Connect program (N=200), aimed at enhancing social and civic engagement. Participants will now obtain resource materials that include decision aids and diary logs to bring to visits with doctors. The investigators will implement Speak Up and Connect programs in two unique study populations: 1) participants in the ongoing NCI study and 2) older adults attending senior center programs sponsored by Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). Participants will be assessed prior to the intervention and 2 month, and 12 months post intervention. The investigators will have an observation window of 12 months to determine whether and when the older adult obtained screening. The selection of a shorter follow-up time frame will help reduce attrition.

Official Title
-----------------
Health Care Partners in Cancer Prevention and Care Among Aged

Conditions
-----------------
Cancer

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Behavioral: Speak Up
* Behavioral: Get connected


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Men and women Over the age of 65 from Area Agencies of Aging who are interested in participating Exclusion Criteria: No exclusion

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Speak Up<br>Participants will learn how to speak up to their medical doctors for improving their medical care. | Behavioral: Speak Up<br>* Intervention group_treatment group<br>* Other names: The Involved Elders Project;|
| Other: Get Connected<br>Attention control group | Behavioral: Get connected<br>* Participants will learn to be connected with social resources in the community.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Perception of Physician Quality Scale | Perception of Physician Quality Scale(Lee & Kasper, 1998) will be used to measure patient satisfaction with physician care (p. 21). Questions include satisfaction with physician visits and satisfaction with physician knowledge of respondent's medical problems. This scale has been utilized with elderly populations (e.g. Burton et al. 2002) and has been found to be a valid and reliable (Cronbach's alpha greater than .8) measure of patient satisfaction (Lee & Kasper, 1998). | one year | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cancer Screening Recommendations | Physicians would make more recommendations for cancer prevention and screening | one year |