Increasing Access to Cervical Cancer Screening and Patient Navigation in North Texas is sponsored by Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Seeks to improve cervical cancer screening and patient navigation services in North Texas.

Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Maintenance of Project ACCESS: Increasing Access to Cervical Cancer Screening & Treatment Services in Texas Cancer Screening and Early Detection The University of Texas M. D.

Anderson Cancer Center Principal Investigator/Program Director In the United States, cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates have significantly declined over the past 60 years due to widespread implementation of screening programs utilizing cytology (Pap) and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing.

However, disparities persist, particularly among women in medically underserved areas (MUAs), where access to preventive care remains limited. Texas continues to report some of the highest cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates in the country, with elevated rates in the Rio Grande Valley and Northeast Texas.

In these regions, women are less likely to receive timely cervical cancer screening and appropriate follow-up care, contributing to a disp... In the United States, cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates have significantly declined over the past 60 years due to widespread implementation of screening programs utilizing cytology (Pap) and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing.

However, disparities persist, particularly among women in medically underserved areas (MUAs), where access to preventive care remains limited. Texas continues to report some of the highest cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates in the country, with elevated rates in the Rio Grande Valley and Northeast Texas.

In these regions, women are less likely to receive timely cervical cancer screening and appropriate follow-up care, contributing to a disproportionate burden of disease. Overall Project Strategy: We propose a maintenance expansion of our current CPRIT-funded multicomponent intervention (CPRIT ACCESS) to increase cervical cancer screening for women living in MUAs of Texas.

We propose to continue supporting our 13 collaborative clinical sites and include two new sites: one in the Tyler, Northeast Texas area and another one in Bexar County. We aim to continue our multicomponent intervention, delivering public education about cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination through community outreach and clinic in-reach, coupled with patient navigation to screening, diagnosis and treatment.

We will provide support to local clinicians to build capacity to deliver quality cervical cancer prevention services through education, ongoing training and mentoring. Specific Goals: The project goals are to: 1. Increase cervical cancer screening in MUAs of Texas through clinic in-reach and community outreach educational programs, as well as patient navigation services.

2. Increase local capacity to deliver evidence-based cervical cancer prevention services through professional education, training and support of local medical providers in MUAs of Texas, 3.

Address barriers to screening and HPV vaccination through coordination of cervical cancer prevention efforts by hosting community events that combine cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination for women and family members using the Jupiter (Juntos Prevenimos y Detenemos El Cancer) program. 4.

Ensure 100% of patients with abnormal screening results have the opportunity to be navigated to and receive evaluation and diagnostic testing and 100% of patients diagnosed with cancer are navigated for evaluation and treatment.

Significance and Impact: Over the past 11 years, our program has forged transformative partnerships with community clinics, academic institutions, state organizations, and clinical providers to improve cervical cancer screening and treatment of women with pre-invasive cervical disease across MUAs in Texas.

Through this collaborative, multicomponent intervention, we have significantly expanded access to screening and early detection, ensuring that more women receive timely and appropriate care in the communities where they live.

A cornerstone of our approach has been the training and support of patient navigators, embedded within our partnering clinics, who serve as trusted guides in connecting community members to screening and follow up services. These navigators empower women with education, facilitate screenings, and ensure seamless transitions to follow-up care.

Additionally, our ongoing provider training initiative has strengthened the capacity of healthcare professionals to deliver high-quality screening, diagnostic procedures for women with abnormal results, and treatment for women with preinvasive cervical disease and invasive cervical cancer. Some of these providers currently serve as mentors for others, which addresses and supports the sustainability of this work.

By leveraging the expertise and infrastructure of The University of Texas system, we have fostered a network of individuals dedicated to navigating patients in need for screening, evaluation and treatment as needed.

As we continue the maintenance of expansion of our work, we remain committed to refining and improving our strategies, engaging new partners, and driving the long-term sustainability of this work—ensuring that every woman, regardless of her circumstances, has equitable access to cervical cancer prevention and treatment services.