Abstract LB138: Quality of life impact on cancer screening in Black subgroups
Authors: Ragin Camille , Ashing Kimlin T. , Song Gaole , Blackman Elizabeth , Gibbs Denise , He Zhongxuan , Harrison Sharon , Manzano Jomel Meeko , Theard Olivia , Tulloch-Reid Marshall 
Published: April 2024

Introduction Blacks have the poorest cancer outcomes with the highest incidence and mortality. Preliminary studies led by the African Caribbean Consortium (AC3) show that Blacks are diverse with distinct cancer risks and outcomes. It is clear that cancer screening is critical to prevention, and population patterns of screening are dictated by complex and multilevel factors including cost, access and health system as well as personal factors. These personal characteristics, especially considering Black diversity, are particularly understudied. Hence, this study seeks to describe cancer screening patterns in Black subgroups, especially considering the influence of quality of life (QOL).

Methods This study drew data from the community-engaged AC3-Cancer Prevention Project (CAP3) targeting diverse Blacks. Specifically, we sought to identify associations between QOL measured by CDC Physical and Mental Health; Perceived Stress, and self-reported cancer screenings breast, prostate, cervical and colon cancers. Cancer screening rates were stratified by African Americans (AfA) and African (AfI) and African-Caribbean (AfC) immigrants. Descriptive analyses and Fisher’s Exact test were conducted.

Results There were 263 AfA, 103 AfI, and 174 AfC. Overall, cancer screening rates were consistently above 50%. Distinct QOL variables were associated with cancer screening patterns with some variability by Black sub-group. Better Mental Health e.g., wellbeing (p=0.01) and energy (p=0.04) are related to mammogram uptake for all subgroups. Better energy (p=0.03) and lower life-burden (p=0.01) showed significant associations with mammogram for AfAs. For AfCs, Mental Health- depressive symptomatology was significantly related to breast- (p=0.04), prostate- (p=0.03), and colorectal- cancer screening (p=0.03). For AfI, Stress was significantly related to colorectal cancer screening (p=0.01).

Discussion Results demonstrated QOL variables, especially those related to mental health e.g., depressive symptomatology and lack of life control influenced cancer screening among AfC and AfI, respectively than other subgroups. While among AfA screening patterns were more heavily influenced by mental health aspects on the empowerment domain e.g., energy and burden. This novel, discovery science study suggests the importance of interaction between QOL, in particular mental wellbeing, self-and health efficacy and life-burden, and cancer screening. Findings highlight Black heterogeneity–encompassing diverse ethnic and cultural subgroups–with distinct influencers of cancer screening patterns; all requiring urgent scientific attention and research prioritization to address pressing Black cancer vulnerability and disparities, particularly qualitative exploration of these relationships among the Black diasporas.

Citation Format: Camille Ragin, Kimlin T. Ashing, Gaole Song, Elizabeth Blackman, Denise Gibbs, Zhongxuan He, Sharon Harrison, Jomel Meeko Manzano, Olivia Theard, Marshall Tulloch-Reid. Quality of life impact on cancer screening in Black subgroups [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr LB138.