Abstract B015: Community and research perspectives regarding cancer disparities: A comparative analysis of listening sessions with diverse stakeholders
Authors: Olson Jessica , Cawthra Tobi , Beyer Kirsten , Frazer David , Ignace Lyle , Maurana Cheryl , Millon-Underwood Sandra , Pinsoneault Laura , Salazar Jose , Walker Alonzo , Williams Carol , Stolley Melinda 
Published: September 2020

Background: Wisconsin’s cancer disparities affect both urban minority and rural communities. A team of academic researchers and community stakeholders convened to understand the complexity of these disparities by analyzing relevant data and community and academic perspectives. Through this analysis, the team identified opportunities for multi-sector collaboration and develop an integrated and collaborative action plan. Methods: Listening sessions and interviews were conducted with more than 200 individuals representing diverse “cells to community” backgrounds. Sessions included a brief review of maps illustrating the breast and lung cancer burden across Wisconsin, and a semi-structured set of questions regarding causes, solutions, and opportunities. A leader with cancer disparities knowledge, public health expertise, and qualitative data collection experience facilitated listening sessions. Whenever possible, facilitators were representative of the cultural and racial/ethnic identities or research backgrounds of the majority of participants. ATLAS.ti was used to codify themes from field notes by two independent coders. Rules for summarizing data, coding, and organizing results were discussed iteratively, and a third qualitative researcher resolved discrepancies. Emerging themes strongly aligned with The Model for Analysis of Population Health and Health Disparities by the National Institutes of Health, and thus, themes were integrated into this framework. Results: Coding themes using The Model for Analysis of Population Health and Health Disparities highlighted areas for potential collaboration as well as specific gaps in knowledge or awareness between researchers and community stakeholders. Communities had unique insights regarding the physical context of cancer disparities including environmental and social factors. Researchers, on the other hand, reflected specialized expertise on biologic and genetic pathways and biological responses such as genetic predisposition and the influence of reproductive and gynecologic factors. Participants from all sectors recognized the need to address individual behavioral risks, patient support, and the need for multi-level partnerships. Conclusions: The Model for Analysis of Population Health and Health Disparities is an effective tool for understanding results from broad based, transdisciplinary perspectives. Using this framework to analyze listening sessions reveal that stakeholders in both community and research settings had unique expertise and perspectives that enhanced the team’s collective understanding of cancer disparities in Wisconsin.

Citation Format: Jessica Olson, Tobi Cawthra, Kirsten Beyer, David Frazer, Lyle Ignace, Cheryl Maurana, Sandra Millon-Underwood, Laura Pinsoneault, Jose Salazar, Alonzo Walker, Carol Williams, Melinda Stolley. Community and research perspectives regarding cancer disparities: A comparative analysis of listening sessions with diverse stakeholders [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr B015.