O-27 Digital health innovation for cancer prevention and support: insights from the Caribbean Cancer Portal
Author(s):
L Telesford, S Joseph, S Charles, S Nixon, O Gabriel, C Noel, K Theodore, T Walcott-Pierre , T Williams, S Williams, K DeCastro, H Yazigi , S Cyr-Philbert , M GrantTate, CNL Macpherson
Type Of Study:
- Qualitative
- Methodological Studies
Year of Presentation:
2026
Objective: The Caribbean Cancer Portal (CCP) program
represents a pioneering, digitally-driven initiative for cancer
education, prevention, and survivorship support across the
Caribbean. Developed in collaboration with ministries
of health in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States
(OECS), the CCP addresses critical gaps in cancer control by promoting accessible, evidence-based learning and
patient-centered resources.
Methods: Our goal was to document methods and to understand the contributions to key successes of the CCP, including active continuous collaboration with the ministries of health and non-governmental organizations; demonstrated high interest of Caribbean and international populations in the CCP; and leadership and facilitation by regional multidisciplinary experts, including occupational health experts and scientists, social scientists, public health experts, information technology experts, medical practitioners, and health project managers. A systematization process was used with steering committee members to document experiences, interfacing with the approach and delivery format of the CCP. Responses were captured to guide discussions around the ongoing development of the CCP program. Emerging themes were organized and described by the program administration for reporting on the CCP in different fora.
Results: Five core lessons emerged: (1) the necessity of diverse, inclusive partnerships extending beyond local levels; (2) leveraging government and non-government resources for efficiency and reach; (3) designing needdriven, contextually relevant interventions; (4) applying scientific frameworks, such as the socioecological model, in program design; and (5) integrating stakeholder feedback to inform scale-up and sustainability. These lessons underscore how regional collaboration and digital health innovation can strengthen cancer control programs in resourcelimited settings.
Conclusion: The CCP model demonstrates that virtual platforms can foster community engagement, enhance health literacy, and improve the sustainability of cancer education and support systems in small island nations. Future expansion will focus on continuous systematization and sustained regional cooperation to ensure equitable access to cancer information and care across the Caribbean.