Maximizing the impact of community outreach and engagement at US cancer centers

In 2016, the National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers funding opportunity was expanded to require community outreach and engagement (COE), with explicit attention to cancer inequities, community engagement, and implementation science in the centers' catchment areas. Resource limitations constrain these activities, and we conducted a qualitative study to understand what COE leaders see as critical needs and supports to increase impact. In the spring of 2021, we interviewed leaders from 56 of 64 cancer centers with COE programs and analyzed the data using a reflexive, thematic approach.We identified 6 categories of needs: 1) centering community engagement among leadership and non-COE researchers, 2) increasing training on implementation science/practice, 3) improving integration into cross-center networks, 4) increasing funding for staffing and sustainment, 5) revising funder guidance and reporting, and 6) facilitating data utilization. COEs need long-term, systems-focused investments to engage communities, increase research translation, and advance health equity.