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Development of a Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer and Genetics Curriculum for Community Health Workers: KEEP IT (Keeping Each other Engaged Program via IT) Community Health Worker Training

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Abstract

We developed a curriculum for community health workers (CHWs) using an innovative, community-engaged focus group and Delphi process approach. Equipping CHWs with knowledge of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC) and genetics could help enhance identification of women at risk for HBOC, referral, and navigation through genetic services. We conducted focus groups with five CHWs and a three-round Delphi process with eight experts. In the first round of the Delphi process, participants rated and commented on draft curriculum modules. The second round involved live video discussion to highlight points of confusion and concern in the modules. The curriculum was revised and refined based on quantitative and qualitative data and reassessed by the experts in Round 3. Ultimately, agreement was achieved on eight of 10 modules when assessing for clarity of learning objectives, seven out of 10 when assessing for adult learning theory, and nine out of 10 when assessing for participants’ ability to learn desired knowledge. We plan to virtually deliver this curriculum to CHWs to enhance their HBOC and genomic competencies. By equipping CHWs to understand and participate in genomics education, we can enable more equitable participation in genomics-informed clinical care and research. Beyond this curriculum, the Delphi methodology can further be used to design content for new CHW curriculums.

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Funding

This study was funded through the American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant awarded to the Hollings Cancer Center,  Medical University of South Carolina.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    Caitlin G. Allen, Ashley Hatch, Suparna Qanungo, Marvella Ford & Sarah Tucker Marrison

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  1. Caitlin G. Allen
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  2. Ashley Hatch
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  3. Suparna Qanungo
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  4. Marvella Ford
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  5. Sarah Tucker Marrison
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  6. Quisha Umemba
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Correspondence to Caitlin G. Allen.

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Allen, C.G., Hatch, A., Qanungo, S. et al. Development of a Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer and Genetics Curriculum for Community Health Workers: KEEP IT (Keeping Each other Engaged Program via IT) Community Health Worker Training. J Canc Educ 39, 70–77 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-023-02377-7

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