DPH Awarded Competitive Grant from DHHS 

 

In May, 2011, the Connecticut Department of Public Health received a small grant award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to implement a “Healthy People 2020 Action Project”.  Healthy People is a federal initiative that sets 10-year national goals and objectives for health promotion and disease prevention. Of 49 applicants from state, territorial, and tribal health departments throughout the U.S., only 21 were selected to receive funding.

 

The focus of Connecticut’s project was the new Healthy People 2020 Genomics topic area with its objectives pertaining to hereditary cancer syndromes. This part of the project has been a collaborative effort involving the DPH Genomics, Planning, Workforce Development, and Cancer Control programs, the Connecticut Tumor Registry, and tumor registrars at 31 acute care hospitals in the state.
 
The 12-month grant, which commenced in June, 2011, supported an initiative to educate health care providers on hereditary cancer syndromes for which national recommendations for genetic counseling and testing exist. The cancer syndromes are hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) and Lynch syndromes.  Lynch syndrome is a genetic condition that predisposes people to early onset (under age 50) colorectal cancer and other cancers of the digestive tract. Women with Lynch syndrome also have a high risk of cancer of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) and ovaries.
 
In 2009, Connecticut had the second highest rate of female breast cancer, the sixth highest rate of ovarian cancer, and sixth highest rate of uterine cancer in the nation.  Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Connecticut.

 

 

 

 

 

The providers also received educational materials about hereditary cancers and copies of evidence-based “best practice” recommendations for genetic testing. The recommendations come from two federally supported, independent advisory panels and are intended to help practitioners and patients make decisions about appropriate health care.

 

 

Along with the educational materials, staff at each hospital was offered the services of a Certified Genetic Counselor for a Grand Rounds training session on prevention and early detection of cancer and the appropriate use of genetics counseling services and tests.  Ultimately staff at 70% of the hospitals received a training session.

 

In addition, project directors from 14 sites throughout Connecticut where free or low-cost screenings for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers are provided, received the information packets and were provided a training session.

 

Feedback surveys were collected at each of the Grand Round presentations, with the data helping to identify ongoing areas of need and to inform future activities. One of these trainings has been recorded and made available to the public online via TRAIN CT at: https://ct.train.org.

The grant also funded the production and distribution of cancer genomics educational materials and best practice guidelines to nearly 1,000 Connecticut physicians specializing in obstetrics/gynecology and gastroenterology, who are most likely to screen for cancer and identify individuals with family histories of cancer. The packet included a unique tool developed by DPH for healthcare providers – a slide chart containing current, evidence-based referral criteria for HBOC and Lynch syndromes.
 
Connecticut's Action Project is expected to help health care providers improve their referral practices and patient care, and ultimately lead to better health outcomes.

 

 

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