Abstract A11: Developing an intervention to promote breast cancer control among Latinas
Authors: Hinton Lisa , Lam Helen , Kim Karen 
Published: October 2015

Objectives: The potential reduction in morbidity and mortality through cancer screening can only be realized when appropriate post screening follow-up care is received for abnormalities. Cancer control education should move beyond screening to include follow-up care. In addition, cancer is viewed among some groups as a death sentence and God's punishment. The fear of cancer manifests itself in fatalistic views, including fear of treatment and rejection, and leads many to deny cancer screening or delay cancer treatment. The purpose of our “A Walk through the Cure” intervention was to create an interactive environment to provide a mechanism for participants to understand the process of breast cancer care. The intervention allowed participants to gain knowledge through direct experience and provide an opportunity to communicate and discuss myths and perceptions about breast cancer with health providers in a less threatened real-life setting.

Method: The intervention was designed to lead participants to go through the journey of breast cancer care. The theoretical underpinning of the intervention is that persuasion occurring through an exchange process will have greater success in moving the individual toward a positive decision. The intervention brought Latina community health workers and community members to the University of Chicago Medicine to learn firsthand about breast health, breast cancer diagnostic and treatment, as well as survivorship. The intervention also mobilized faculty and medical students from the University of Chicago Medicine to create a stimulating learning environment. Participants were led on a walking tour of breast cancer care related centers, including Breast Health Center, Oncology Clinic and Infusion Center, Oncology Radiation Center and Cancer Resource Center at the medical center. Each stop of the tour was staffed by a faculty member. A mini lecture was given by the faculty at each stop and participants were encouraged to ask questions. The tour lasted about two hours, and ended with an interactive discussion led by breast cancer survivors who shared their story of survival. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected through a pre and post survey.

Results: Forty-five members of the Latina community took part in the event. All participants demonstrated an increase in breast cancer control related knowledge on five different breast cancer topics: mammogram, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, breast health, and breast surgery. Likewise, pre-intervention 31.8% of the participants reported having a mammogram. Yet, post-intervention when participants were asked how they would rate their intention to have a yearly mammogram, 83.3% of the participants reported that they would definitely have a yearly mammogram.

Conclusion: In sum, the “A Walk-Through The Cure' intervention shines a new light to patient education science that a two-way communication exchange process and direct experience not only improve knowledge, but also strongly move individual to a positive decision.

Citation Format: Lisa Hinton, Helen Lam, Karen Kim. Developing an intervention to promote breast cancer control among Latinas. [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 A11.