Abstract 5525: Community cancer research advocates: Helping underrepresented minority groups become research ready

• Published in: Cancer research (Chicago, Ill.) Ill.), 2023-04, Vol.83 (7_Supplement), p.5525-5525
• Main Authors: Been, Sarah, Gertz, Susan, Hershberger, Susan, Kovacic, Melinda Butsch
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1538-7445; 1538-7445
• DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.AM2023-5525

Even though certain racial/ethnic minority groups get cancer more often, are diagnosed at younger ages, and are at risk for earlier death, clinical trials fail to include adequate proportions of representatives from these groups. Encouraging equitable participation in research becomes an important tool in the fight against cancer disparities. Therefore, we co-created with community representatives a graphic-style story entitled “Research Ready” that is used by trained Community Research Advocates (including some survivors or family of survivors themselves) to hold brief discussions to help eligible hesitant participants to learn the 3 P’s: the purpose of cancer research, how they are kept safe while participating, and why people from diverse backgrounds are needed to participate. Importantly, advocates use a Research Review activity to discuss factors that influence their willingness to participate as well as identify questions they have for the research study’s staff. Focus group and survey-based evaluation data show these discussions to be useful in increasing hesitant patients’ willingness to consider participation in research and increase perception of safety. Advocates too appreciate the opportunity to serve. While this pilot is small, additional partnerships within the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center to expand the program will be developed. Future partnership with a community patient navigator program will also enable additional support and transportation to research appointments. Collectively, we anticipate that this program will ultimately support hesitant patients’ decision-making and improve cancer research participation particularly among racial/ethnic minorities. Citation Format: Sarah Been, Susan Gertz, Susan Hershberger, Melinda Butsch Kovacic, We Engage 4 Health Community-Academic Partnership. Community cancer research advocates: Helping underrepresented minority groups become research ready. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 5525.