n 2002, the Cancer Awareness, Resources and Education (CARE) program at San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (SFGH) was established to address the well-documented disparity in health outcomes for cancer patients based on ethnicity and income. Low-income cancer patients who have low health literacy face worse health outcomes (including higher mortality rates) than their more affluent peers because of lack of cancer screening, late-stage diagnoses, and difficulty with maintaining treatment regimens. These patients need health education on the many complex medical issues they confront, and practical support in accessing resources that deal with all the psychosocial issues brought on by a cancer diagnosis.
CARE improves access to vital health and wellness information for medically underserved cancer patients in San Francisco by providing health education groups for cancer patients residing in San Francisco who are low-income, who may have low functional health literacy, and may be socially isolated.
While many cancer education and support resources are available in San Francisco, few of San Francisco’s low-income cancer patients use them. Discomfort with unfamiliar institutions, transportation obstacles, language barriers, and expense often prevent these cancer patients from seeking out cancer support groups or complementary therapies. Health information on the internet remains largely inaccessible to medically underserved cancer patients due to lack of access to computers and low rates of computer literacy.
CARE program patients are helped with not only combating their cancer, but the feelings of isolation and fear that go with it. In developing the CARE program, education is a critical extension of patient care. Many patients feel uncomfortable in a medical setting where they often don’t speak the language or understand what is happening. CARE makes sure to create a warm, welcoming environment for them. Classes are offered in English, Spanish and Cantonese to accommodate the patients that come from over 30 different countries. The program includes relaxation and goal-setting exercises, plus guest speakers who address a wide range of topics such as nutrition, complementary medicine, stress reduction, symptom management, and more. By providing comprehensive cancer-related education and self-care skills, the program enhances patients’ understanding of their disease and helps them gain a sense of control over their lives. In addition to classes, CARE takes patients on educational excursions, such as guided nutrition tours to learn about herbs, supplements and healthy eating, and features speakers who present information in interactive and engaging ways.
Through the multilingual (English/Spanish/Cantonese) Araceli Theater Project, patients perform theater pieces for their providers, medical students and the greater community, telling their stories in creative ways. The Araceli Theater Project gives patients an outlet to express themselves and engage in a vibrant community, which further promotes their own health and well-being.
CARE is a form of complementary medicine. It complements what’s happening in the hospital by feeding the soul as well as healing the body.
