National Cancer Institute 5R01CA254730-05

Improving the Timeliness and Quality of Care for Rural Lung and Head-and-Neck Cancer Patients

A research project funded by the National Cancer Institute to improve care timeliness and quality for rural lung and head-and-neck cancer patients through a randomized controlled trial of the CARES intervention.

Description

This project aims to improve the timeliness and quality of care for rural underserved lung cancer (LC) and head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. It evaluates an intervention called CARES (Cancer Advocacy, Resources Education, and Support) to address factors associated with treatment delays and poor care quality. Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, approximately 440 patients will be recruited and assigned to either the intervention or usual care. The study measures outcomes such as time to treatment initiation, treatment completion, patient communication, care coordination, and patient-reported outcomes like coping, distress, and quality of life. The goal is to disseminate and implement the CARES intervention into rural clinical practice to reduce disparities in cancer morbidity and mortality.

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