The existence of significant racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic health disparities in the United States, and specifically within Texas, has been widely documented. There are striking differences in the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of many diseases, including cancer, within minority and poor populations compared to the U.S. population as a whole.

Dallas County reflects the general trend of health disparities in Texas, although disproportionately centralized in specific portions of the county and city. According to a comprehensive assessment of health indicators in Dallas, the South Dallas/Fair Park area has the highest rate of age-adjusted cancer deaths in the county. In 2004, upon noting these disparities within the City of Dallas, the Healthy Dallas Task Force identified three cancer-related health behaviors—diet, physical activity, and tobacco use—as priority areas that needed to be addressed within the community. 

As part of this project, we have created a Community Cancer Disparities Resource Center, which will have as its mission to link the community and research resources. The Cancer Disparities Resource Center is housed at the Bethlehem Center, in close proximity to the target Fair Park/ Frazier Court community, and will provide an institutional framework for the community as well as increase sustainability efforts.

The Resource Center Coordinator will help investigators identify key stakeholders and potential Community Advisory Board (CAB) members. Investigators will then convene the CAB to begin reviewing existing cancer data and discussing cancer disparities in South Dallas, with the objective of assisting them in identifying and focusing on various aspects and types of cancer disparities, problems with health behavior, and prevention approaches including primary and secondary prevention.

Investigators and CAB members will design focus groups to gain more insight into the causes of cancer disparities in the area. Based on the results of the community diagnosis and focus groups, CAB members and investigators will jointly design an appropriate intervention to address the cancer disparities.

Funding for this project was made possible by 1R21CA126732-01A1 from the National Cancer Institute.  The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the ideas of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Click here to access the Community Advisory Board Bylaws.