The continuing evolution of a cancer prevention, screening, and survivorship ECHO: A second year of implementation

• Published in: Cancer medicine (Malden, MA) MA), 2023-03, Vol.12 (6), p.7398-7405
• Main Authors: Etling, Mary Ann, Vik, Terry A., Janota, Andrea D., Liang, Kaley L., Kryder‐Reid, Caroline L., Robertson, Mary, Scanlon, Caitlin, Carson, Anyé, Agley, Jon, Severance, Tyler S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer; cancer education; cancer prevention; clinical management; Continuing education; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Curricula; Delivery of Health Care; Didacticism; Disease prevention; Early Detection of Cancer; Education; Feedback; Focus groups; Health care; Humans; Indiana; Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Participation; Postal codes; screening; Social networks; Surveys and Questionnaires; Survival; Survivorship; Teams; United States
• ISSN: 2045-7634; 2045-7634
• DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5441

Introduction An estimated 39,010 Indiana residents were diagnosed with cancer in 2021. To address the cancer burden, Project ECHO (Extension Community Healthcare Outcomes) was launched in 2019 in Indiana to build specialty healthcare capacity among non‐specialists. Due to positive outcomes from the pilot year, the Cancer Prevention, Screening, and Survivorship ECHO was implemented for a second year. The purpose of this study was to measure the participation and regional impact of this ECHO. Methods ECHO sessions occurred twice monthly from October 2020 to October 2021. Changes were implemented in response to feedback from the pilot year, including making the curriculum more practical for learners and adding accreditation opportunities. Participant information and feedback was extracted from electronic surveys for review. Results There were 24 ECHO sessions with 213 unique participants, increased from 140 unique participants in the pilot year. An average of 23.5 individuals attended each session, increased from 15.5 individuals per session. Enrolled participants served in a diverse set of roles and represented 247 zip codes, 30 Indiana counties, and 32 states across the United States, each of which increased from the pilot year. Discussion In this second year, this ECHO expanded to reach more participants with increased attendance and a more diverse distribution of roles within healthcare, which may be attributed to feedback‐driven curriculum design. Cancer care is multi‐disciplinary, with health educators, nurses, and administrators, each acting within the cancer care continuum. As a result, this ECHO has been adapted to serve an increasingly broad distribution of professionals. Conclusion The second year of the Cancer Prevention, Screening, and Survivorship ECHO displayed increased overall enrollment and participation, greater diversity among participant roles, and a wider reach across Indiana and the United States. To address the cancer burden, Project ECHO (Extension Community Healthcare Outcomes) was launched in 2019 in Indiana to build specialty healthcare capacity among non‐specialists on topics in cancer prevention, screening, and survivorship care. In this second year, this ECHO reached 213 unique participants in 247 zip codes, 30 Indiana counties, 32 states, and 4 countries. This ECHO expanded to reach more participants with increased attendance and a more diverse distribution of roles within healthcare, which may be attributed to feedback‐driven