Bristol-Myers Squibb

A new project of Hungarian Hospice Foundation for improving the health status of segregated population

Needs Assessment, Cancer Screening and Case Management of the Segregated,
Underserved Population in Hungary

Background
Studies targeting the health conditions of the segregated, underserved population groups (most of them belong to the Roma population) show that they have a 1.8 times higher rate of cancer incidence than the general population. To make the situation even more severe, the illness occurs in this group at a younger age than in the general population The life expectancy of Roma at birth is some ten years shorter than that of the general population (Babusik and Papp, 2004, see:  http://www.delphoi.hu/engpage/engdownl-pdf/roma-health.pdf ).  

To compensate for the lack of equal opportunities and its consequences is, thus, a primary task for all those involved in improving the medical conditions of the Roma population in Hungary.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
„Achieve a change in the attitude of members of the disadvantaged Roma population strongly affected by cancer that makes them more ready to participate in screening services”
The main objective of this project is to encourage disadvantaged, primarily Roma groups of the society living in poverty to make proper use of the existing capacities of the health care system, visit screening services and, in the case of a positive result, have recourse to oncology services or palliative care if needed. General practice and public health nurses and other health care professionals as well as volunteer workers support participants in taking part in screenings, in the case of a positive result, we provide efficient and professional help in planning the course of the treatment as well as in how to make use of curative or palliative services  

Activities of the project

In accordance with already existing programs to fight poverty and promote screening services, our project features a wide range of activities. As an integral part of our project, the accredited trainings designed for health care professionals, physicians and volunteers (see below under 4.1) discuss possible sociological, socio-economic, cultural and communicative factors behind the poor medical condition of those living in poverty. They focus on conveying practical knowledge to encourage members of the target group to turn to physicians with their problems and thus, improve their medical condition and the quality of their lives.
Health care professionals (general practice and public health nurses, general practiotioners and oncologists) and volunteer workers who completed the training help members of the target group get to organized screening services in the framework of field work (see below under 4.2) and offer practical support in the further care of identified positive cases (see below under 4.3).
A further integral part of the project is the registration of follow-up data (see below, under 4.4) as well as an interview exploring the attitudes of those living in a disadvantaged, segregated group towards health, illness and health care (see below under 4.5)
A publication summarizing the results (see below under 4.6) aims at sharing the experiences gathered on the largest possible scale in order to promote future programs designed to improve the health condition of those living in poverty.


Pertners

György Gyukics, sociologist, researcher in the area living conditions among the Roma population
Zsuzsa Ferge, sociologist, specialist in poverty research
Gábor Iványi, Methodist pastor, manager of the hospital for the homeless and the homeless care center
Council of Hungarian Health Care Professionals (CHHCP-MESZK)
Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU-TASZ)
National Association of Cancer Patients
Our project is an integral part of the Program of the Decade of Roma Inclusion (PDRI) and the Program of the Decade of Health (PDH)