Resources

Multi-level predictors of being up-to-date with colorectal cancer screening

Engaging stakeholders in the use of an interactive simulation tool to support decision-making about the implementation of colorectal cancer screening interventions

Losing a part of life: experiences of cancer survivors accessing treatment and sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic

Prioritizing rural populations in state comprehensive cancer control plans: a qualitative assessment

Effect of rurality and travel distance on contralateral prophylactic mastectomy for unilateral breast cancer

Best Practices for Including Rural Perspectives in State Comprehensive Cancer Control Plans | February 2023

This report created by the Rural Cancer Workgroup summarizes best practices and recommendations that may be used to incorporate rural perspectives in state comprehensive cancer control plans. The 2019 National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services recommended that state Comprehensive Cancer Control Plans include rural-specific cancer data as well as goals, objectives, and strategies to address rural cancer-related issues. Many states have included the term ‘rural’ in comprehensive cancer control plans, but only a third have included rural-specific goals, objectives, and strategies. To assess how states have included rural partners comprehensive cancer control program directors from thirty states were interviewed and key findings are summarized in this brief.

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Data Brief: "Addressing Financial Toxicity Among Rural & Urban Patients at Cancer Care Programs" | August 2020

In August 2020, members of the CPCRN Rural Cancer Workgroup produced a data brief, titled "Addressing Financial Toxicity Among Rural & Urban Patients at Cancer Care Program." Investigators conducted interviews with staff across 29 cancer care programs in seven states to develop an understanding about how cancer care programs assess financial hardship in patients, improve how programs connect patients with financial resources, and expand financial navigation services to serve rural cancer patients.

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Resource Brief: "Colorectal Cancer Simulation Model" | April 2018

In April 2018, CPCRN’s Modeling Evidence-Based Intervention (EBI) Impact Workgroup published their Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Simulation Model Resource Brief to reflect upon recent efforts to model CRC risk, screening, treatment, and cancer outcomes.

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Data Brief: "Tobacco & Lung Cancer Screening in Federally Qualified Health Centers: Results from a National Survey" | July 2017

While prevalence of tobacco use has declined over the past decade, rates have remained steady and have even increased among some socially- and economically-disadvantaged populations. Studies have also shown that lower-income cigarette smokers suffer from more diseases, such as lung cancer, than smokers with higher incomes. In August 2016, the Cancer Prevention Research & Control Research Network (CPCRN)—a network of academic, public health, and community partners—conducted a national survey of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to better understand their tobacco cessation and lung cancer screening practices. Of 258 invited, a total of 112 FQHCs completed the survey, representing 48 states.

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Counter Tools Website

Co-developed by Dr. Kurt Ribisl, former Principal Investigator of the CPCRN Coordinating Center at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC), in collaboration with colleague outside of the Network, Dr. Allison Myers, the Counter Tools website was originally designed in response to concerns around big tobacco’s focus on keeping tobacco products cheap and visible in retail environments. As such, the site was conceptualized and brought to life as a free, one-stop-shop for all things related to point-of-sale tobacco control. In 2011, they created CounterTobacco.org, a CDC-funded resource focused on tobacco point-of-sale history, impact, and policy solutions.

Within this effort, the Store Audit Center and Store Mapper tools were born, taking public health advocates from community problem to policy solution. Despite being out-funded 20:1 by the tobacco industry, tobacco control practitioners have made great progress in reducing smoking from 42% (1964) to 19% (2011).

Policy changes, such as tax increases, banning smoking on airplanes and workplaces, and marketing restrictions caused these dramatic declines in tobacco use. Still, tobacco related mortality remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, costing more than 440,000 early deaths, 5.5 million years of potential life lost, and $157 billion in health care expenses annually. The point of sale (POS) is currently the lead channel for tobacco industry marketing. In 2008, the tobacco industry spent $7.2 billion dollars on ads, displays and discount pricing at retail, activities that make it easier to start smoking and harder to quit.

Policy change towards a more healthful neighborhood environment first requires documentation of the extent of the problem. Then, advocates must display data visually to clarify the problem to decision makers. Counter Tools provides a clear pathway to facilitate the POS policy change process. Counter Tools is a North Carolina-based non-profit organization dedicated to disseminating cutting edge, evidence-based software tools to public health workers at the local and state levels in the United States and abroad.

The Counter Tools Store Audit Center and Store Mapper tools are customizable, easy to use, and will increase the likelihood that communities can pass and implement point-of-sale policies that will reduce tobacco use.

Visit countertools.org for more information.