CANCERLESS

Cancer prevention and early detection among the homeless population in Europe: Co-adapting and implementing the Health Navigator Model

The aim of the CANCERLESS project is to deliver an innovative solution as an aggregate intervention based on the combination of the tested Patient Navigator Model and Patient Empowerment Model to create the Health Navigator Model for Europe. The Health Navigator Model is an evidence-based patient-centred intervention which develops patient empowerment through health education and social support and promotes timely access to primary and secondary prevention services.
CANCERLESS includes partner organizations with long-standing experience in working in the field of health and social care for the homeless in the south, east, northwest and central Europe, as well as academic institutions and local governments. Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation as well as the Research and the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance frameworks based on implementation science know-how, the CANCERLESS project aims to reduce the gap in health inequalities for the homeless population by reducing cancer burden, which will, in turn, reduce associated costs across health and social care systems in Europe. Moreover, the CANCERLESS project aims to harness the transformative potential of the integrated care pathways in cancer as well as provide health and social care policy recommendations for the adoption and implementation of the Health Navigator Model across Europe.

IFIC’s role: IFIC is the WP5 leader responsible of developing the Blueprint of integrated cancer care for the population experiencing homelessness in Europe. Moreover, IFIC is one of the main contributors through all the phases of the project supporting the co-design of the Health Navigator Model aiming at providing person-centred, integrated care to prevent and early detect cancer among persons experiencing homelessness, as well as developing the capacity building framework for the pilot sites to implement the pilot activities.