Abstract A17: Impact of a culturally adapted, evidence-based biospecimen education program in six populations groups: The Cancer Disparities Research Network Cancer 101
Authors: Fleisher Linda , Norbeck Carrie 
Published: October 2015

Purpose/Background: As advances in genetics and personalized medicine in cancer continue, the need for diversity in biorepositories becomes paramount. Research focused on the feasibility and cultural tailoring of community-based approaches to engage racial/ethnic minority communities in biospecimen donation is emerging. The session will describe the CDRN's efforts to translate, adapt and pilot test an evidenced-based biospecimen education curriculum for 6 target population groups; African American, Hispanic, Appalachian, Chinese, South Asian, and Native American. The project was undertaken by the CDRN, Region 5 of the National Cancer Institute's national Geographic Management Program (GMaP), which comprises 25 institutions in 15 states and brings together community-engaged researchers and biomedical scientists to address challenges in cancer health disparities and diverse engagement in research.

Methods: Based on a rigorous adaptation process, community based pilot programs were implemented with 6 populations through 11 institutions (Fox Chase, Roswell Park, Dana-Farber Harvard, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Chicago, Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Ohio State University, Penn State Hershey, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Northwestern University, & Mayo Clinic. The PI and research staff at each institution identified the community groups and implemented the program based on an agreed upon protocol. The evaluation included a pre and post-program survey to assess impact on knowledge and intention to participate in biospecimen related research.

Results: 530 community members participated in the pilot program at the 11 sites. The sample included 19% African American, 19% Appalachian, 18% Chinese, 17% Hispanic, 10% Native American, and 17% Southeast Asian. Preliminary analyses indicate that 14% (range 10-24%) had taken part in a research study and only 16% (range 3% to 50%) had ever donated a biospecimen. Ranked reasons to participate are: helping others in the future, improving my own health, and to contribute to new discoveries. On the post-survey, 73% strongly agreed that that program helped them to better understand biospecimen research and 3 out of 4 participants reported they were very (42%) or somewhat likely (33%)to donate a sample to a future study.

Discussion: We will present on the final results of the pilot, including significant differences among the 6 populations in knowledge, attitudes and behavioral intentions.

Learning Objectives

Understand the Cancer Health Disparities Network (CDRN)'s process to adapt and assess impact of an evidence-based cancer and biospecimen education curriculum for diverse populations

Describe the culturally-adapted Cancer 101 cancer and biospecimen education curriculum used in pilot studyUnderstand participants' knowledge and attitudes of biospecimen research across six diverse populations both pre and post education sessionExplain the CDRN's community-engaged approach to addressing cancer health disparities, diverse engagement in biospecimen research and its application to other community based research

Citation Format: Linda Fleisher, Carrie Norbeck. Impact of a culturally adapted, evidence-based biospecimen education program in six populations groups: The Cancer Disparities Research Network Cancer 101. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A17.