Increasing Access to Definitive Treatment for Prostate Cancer by Removing Transportation Barriers for UnderservedPatients: A Multilevel Feasibility Study
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Summary
Investigators will address the overarching challenge of advancing health equity and reducing disparities in prostate cancer by informing efforts to reduce travel burden in prostate cancer (PCa) treatment access among Black men.
Description
The following are the three aims of the proposal: Aim 1: Determine how travel distance for PCa treatment impacts the outcome Aim 2: Pilot a trial by offering ridesharing services for Black men seeking definitive PCa treatment in Greater Boston to reduce missed appointments. The investigators will implement a pre/post evaluation design with matched historical controls to estimate the impact of rideshares on reducing missed appointments among Black men seeking care at the Mass General Brigham Prostate Cancer Outreach Clinic. The investigators will also calculate the reduction in time from diag…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 22+ years
- Sex
- Male
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Black man * Intermediate-or high-risk prostate cancer * Seeking prostate cancer definitive treatment (surgery or radiation) at the Mass General Brigham Prostate Cancer Outreach Clinic * Reside in a census tract in Massachusetts recognized as having a high travel burden based on results of Aim1 of the Project OR identifies as having difficulties or challenges when it comes to transportation, particularly in relation to getting to and from medical appointments Exclusion Criteria: None
Interventions
- OtherRide Share
The Investigators' proposed study addresses the Prostate Cancer Research Program overarching challenge of Advancing Health Equity and Reducing Disparities in PCa by examining and addressing travel burden to PCa treatment centers. Investigators will focus on Black men (including those of Caribbean descent), a high-risk population experiencing poorer health outcomes for unjust and preventable reasons. This research will inform efforts to reduce travel burden in the healthcare acquisition process and improve the timeliness of treatment in Black men with PCa in Massachusetts and other states. This project will improve the quality of life and enhance outcomes and overall health and wellness for this group. Investigators will use findings from this pilot study to obtain future funding for a multicenter randomized clinical trial that will estimate the effect of equity - oriented programs that remove transportation barriers to treatment and reduce Black-White disparities in PCa outcomes
Location
- Brigham and Women's HospitalBoston, Massachusetts