Abstract 2161: Recruitment feasibility of Hispanic women in breast cancer survivorship research using state cancer registry procedures
Authors: Lee Eunkyung , Sukhu Brian , Griffin Mia , Griffin Rhea , Mercado-Almodovar Nathalia , Utrera Nelisa , Bello Keidy , Lakshmanan Meera 
Published: March 2024

Objectives: Hispanic populations are underrepresented in epidemiologic studies. Although the Florida State Cancer Registry’s primary role is cancer surveillance and control, it can also aid in population-based epidemiologic studies of cancer survivors. This study aimed to evaluate the viability of using the Florida Cancer Data System’s (FCDS) patient recruitment methods to enlist Hispanic women with breast cancer for a cross-sectional survey.

Methods: During August 2023 - November 2023, we recruited adult (age ≥ 20) women who were diagnosed with breast cancer at least six months ago before enrollment, self-identified themself as Hispanic, and currently living in Central Florida, using state-mandated recruitment procedure which includes two invitation letters sent via mail three weeks apart and calling to non-responders after three weeks, but up to 4 times. Potential interested participants were asked to complete a survey in English or Spanish via print or online packet, providing data on demographics, health, lifestyle, and quality of life. An Excel log was used to track the response and return dates.

Results: As of October 25, 2023, we sent the invitation letters to a total of 667 participants deemed eligible per FCDS. Most of them did not respond to the letters or follow-up telephone calls, with 364 being unreachable due to incorrect contact information, which led to 303 accessible participants. The accessible sample included 22 Cubans, 73 Puerto Ricans, 65 South/Central Americans, 20 Dominicans, 39 Mexicans, and 83 Other Hispanics, with 48.7% speaking Spanish. Among the accessible participants, 113 refused to participate, 34 were not eligible, 13 have not decided yet, 118 agreed to participate but have not completed the survey yet, and 25 agreed to participate and completed the survey as of November 15. Common reasons for not qualifying included “not being Hispanic,” “dead,” “not living in Central Florida,” “not having cancer,” or “inability to read English or Spanish.” The most common reasons for refusal were “too sick,” “too old,” or “not interested.” The average response time to the first and second invitations was 20.1 and 19.6 days, respectively, and most participants responded to the second or third call within 8.3 days of the first call.

Conclusions: The FCDS can be used to recruit Hispanics for epidemiology studies. However, the state-mandated patient recruitment procedure needs improvement. For example, the procedure should collect participants' email addresses in addition to their mail and telephone numbers, allow researchers to contact participants via email instead of written mail, and remove all dead individuals before sending the contact information to researchers.

(Supported by Florida Breast Cancer Foundation Scientific Research Grant 2023 and UCF SEED grant).

Citation Format: Eunkyung Lee, Brian Sukhu, Mia Griffin, Rhea Griffin, Nathalia Mercado-Almodovar, Nelisa Utrera, Keidy Bello, Meera Lakshmanan. Recruitment feasibility of Hispanic women in breast cancer survivorship research using state cancer registry procedures [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2161.