Innovative ‘Paint and Sip’ Model of Cancer Prevention is Focus of CDI Paper

Artistic creativity is a vital means of human expression - and a deep form of social communication. Each poem or painting has the potential to inspire new attitudes, or open minds to new possibilities and change.

A team of researchers from the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) and the Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center’s Community Outreach and Engagement Department have developed a way to merge guided art sessions with important health messaging topics, as newly presented in a new paper in The Journal of Cancer Education.

The “Paint and Sip” program is an arts-based cancer education series designed to increase engagement and awareness to people who might not know of the importance of screening.

“This concept shows how creativity naturally spurs connection and communication,” said Lisa Carter-Bawa, Ph.D., MPH, APRN, ANP-C, FAAN, director of the CDI’s Cancer Prevention Precision Control Institute (CPPCI) and Director  of Cancer Community Outreach & Engagement At the cancer center. “By engaging people in this way, we help people participate, and get involved, and build trustworthy connections.”

The events were held in accessible, non-clinical venues like civic centers or supermarkets. The proceedings combined guided painting sessions with culturally-tailored cancer education, delivered by trained community health workers (CHWs).

During natural pauses in the creative process, the CHWs led 15-minute discussions on cancer prevention topics, including screening guidelines, risk factors, and genetic testing.

All participants completed a brief screening questionnaire and were offered patient navigation services to address further needs, and to determine best methods to support follow-through on screenings.

The program was busy: over a series of events over a year, nearly 200 people were reached across New Jersey, with an average of 25 attending each event. Strong retention - and a good spread by word-of-mouth - was observed.

Some 82 percent of these people were not current with their cancer screenings, and a total of 62 percent accepted navigation support.

The participants variously described the event as “uplifting,” “judgment-free,” and “a new way to learn about health without fear,” according to the paper.

“As cancer centers and public health institutions strive to deepen community engagement and reduce disparities in cancer outcomes, innovative approaches are needed,” conclude the authors. “The arts are not an add-on – they are a catalyst for equity, connection, and empowerment.

Due to its success, the Paint and Sip program remains an ongoing, bi-monthly series which will continue to support cancer education, prevention, and early detection from a social and community based perspective all year round.

“The Paint and Sip model demonstrates how embedding creativity into COE can foster deeper engagement and lay the foundation for sustained cancer prevention efforts,” they add.

For interest in our Paint & Sips, please contact JTCC COE Department at jtcccoestaff@hmhn.org.