Advancing Health Equity Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Within a National Health Nonprofit Organization

Abstract

Objective: This study presents survey results assessing the impact of the American Cancer Society (ACS) health equity (HE) training on staff knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about HE and social determinants of health (SDOH). Design: This study is a quasi-experimental design examining survey responses over time and comparing responses from staff who participated in ACS HE training sessions and education opportunities and those who did not. Setting: An electronic Web survey was distributed to all ACS and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) staff in each of the 3 years that the training was held (2018-2020). Participants: ACS and ACS CAN staff who chose to take the survey were included in the study. Intervention: Engagement with training hosted by the ACS HE team was examined. Training sessions were intended to introduce staff to HE and SDOH in the context of cancer outcomes and provide staff with the skills to become HE champions in the organization. Main Outcome Measures: This study examines whether participation in training sessions hosted by the HE team had an impact on knowledge of HE terms, attitudes, and beliefs about HE and engagement with HE. Results: Trained respondents had a significantly higher HE knowledge summary score (98%) than those who were not trained (79%, SD = 0.26100, P