Abstract A058: Examining preferential mode of obtaining health information in African American women with elevated risk for breast cancer
Authors: Ivy Tera , Chukwudozie Ifeanyi , Henderson Vida , Tejeda Silvia , Vijayasiri Ganga , Balthazar Catherine , Winn Robert , Hoskins Kent 
Published: August 2020

Background: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. and is substantially higher in African American (AA) women. Early detection is crucial in decreasing breast cancer mortality and racial disparities. Research shows that low-income minority women are less likely to get breast cancer screening. Previous studies demonstrate that use of technology increases cancer screening rates. However, there are limited studies on the preferred mode of consuming health information for AA women, particularly those with increased risk of developing cancer.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to examine preferences in receiving and accessing health information among AA women with a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer.

Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study to address our research objective. For quantitative data, African American women (aged 26-67) were recruited from a Federally Qualified Health Center in the Southside of Chicago who were identified with elevated breast cancer risk via a risk assessment tool. Women were asked to complete a survey that assessed their preferred method of receiving health information. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. To supplement the quantitative data, qualitative data were collected during two focus groups conducted with AA women aged 25-69 with a family history of breast cancer. Bivariate analyses were performed to determine women's preferences in receiving and accessing health information, and if these preferences differed by age (&lt;40 and ≥40).

Results: The analytical sample consisted of 85 AA women with increased breast cancer risk. Sixty-nine women completed the surveys and 16 women attended focus group sessions. The majority of the study participants found reading materials (100%), listening to recordings (73%), and watching videos (96%) or animation (62%) were useful modes of receiving health information. There were no differences in these preferences by age groups. All women aged ≥40 years preferred receiving information explained by a person (p-value = 0.032). Most of the women had a cell phone with texting capabilities (90%). Seventy-eight percent of cell phone owners used their cell phone to access health information on the Internet, and 64% of these women were aged &lt;40 years (p-value = 0.004). Other vital avenues of accessing health information that emerged from the focus groups included social media and health fairs.

Conclusion: Understanding African American women's preferences for receiving and accessing health information can inform development of interventions designed to improve adherence to cancer screening recommendations. Additional research is needed to better understand the impact that accessing health information through various media has on cancer screening rates.

Citation Format: Tera Ivy, Ifeanyi Chukwudozie, Vida Henderson, Silvia Tejeda, Ganga Vijayasiri, Catherine Balthazar, Robert Winn, Kent Hoskins. Examining preferential mode of obtaining health information in African American women with elevated risk for breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr A058.