Innovative Interventions That Promote Access to Cancer Care Among People Experiencing Homelessness and Lessons Learned: A Systematic Review.
Early detection of cancer and prompt linkage to medical care in people experiencing homelessness (PEH) are crucial to improve the disparity in cancer incidence and mortality between PEH and their housed counterparts. A systematic review was conducted across 3 academic databases in April 2024 to identify interventions that aim to improve adherence to cancer care among PEH. Data from 16 eligible studies were extracted and organized around intervention type, and thematic analysis was conducted to extract key lessons learned. All studied cancer screening, taking part in mostly urban settings in the United States. The most common interventions were increasing cancer screening accessibility (n=7) and patient navigation (n=6). In one randomized trial, patient navigation was associated with 8.51 higher odds of lung cancer screening completion. Combining multiple interventions had the greatest impact on screening rates, but future interventions should also link PEH to diagnostic procedures, cancer treatment, and survivorship.