Sister Survivor: Evaluating Best Practices in Social Support
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Introduction: Quality of life (QOL) among African American Breast Cancer Survivors (AABCS) has been overlooked. African Americans are diagnosed at a later stage, survival rate is lower and more illnesses and deaths; and lower perceptions, physical and functional well-being (Ashing-Giwa et. al., 2008). These negative outcomes indicate that the support needs of AABCS are great.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Question(s) or hypotheses for the Full Award: 1) why do support group settings matter? 2) Can peer-based support groups built on the foundation of structure and process from the African American BCS coalition’s Pilot Award preliminary findings –“the Culturally-Informed, Peer-based Breast Cancer Support Group Guidebook” create an effective infrastructure for peer-based support in underserved areas?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Preliminary findings from the Pilot Award:
 
 
 
 1. Creation of preliminary Breast Cancer Support Group Guidebook. 
 
 
 
 2. African American women have a history of leadership within our church. Our commitment to worship and service is where we often draw our strength from. To have a place were we can come together to combine our spirituality as leaders in a support group setting is essential to survivorship. A Support group is a place you can go to feel protected and where you can let your guard down and feel comforted that you are not alone in the fight to survive. Thus, having broader understanding and appreciation of the role of spirituality and spirituality with the support groups is vital . Lack of adequate follow-up BC and overall medical care exists: 4% indicated that they receive no regular follow-up care; and 12% had not had a mammogram, 40% had not had a pap test and 55% had not had colon cancer screening within the past year. The disparities that exist are alarming and need to be addressed. There is concern for the lack of support groups and services available to AABCS in the Inland Empire. Since most support groups are located in the greater L.A. area, it may be difficult for women residing in this region to attend support groups. Therefore, there is a need to develop support resources in Inland Empire (IE). During this pilot we have solidified and expanded our African American Cancer Coalition to include 7 advocacy groups in Los Angeles (Women of Color, Women of Essence, Celebrate Life cancer Ministries, Sisters, Support Sisters, Faith Hope and Charity and Women in Action), 3 advocacy groups in the Inland Empire (Kommah Serray Breast Cancer Organization, The witness Project and Healthy Heritage), and The Green Foundation in Orange County. Our partnering organizations also include the ACS, Partnered for Progress, Wellness Community and Komen Foundation. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Collaborative Activities: A series of collaborative activities were undertaken during the planning, implementation and dissemination of this research study (see Table 3). These activities included 10 face to face planning or training meetings planning (e.g., discuss roles, study implementation) and 2 training meetings (e.g., focus groups), and a community findings report conference held on December 1, 2008. This Pilot Award and the Increasing the Voice JFCA resulted in 7 grant development consultation with Dr Ashing-Giwa providing technical assistance to: 1)Carolyn Tapp -WOC: National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) “Each One Teach One”; 2) Advocacy in Action Kommah McDowell -Kommah Serray Breast Cancer Foundation: Komen “Breast cancer Screening in African American Women 3)Vickie Race- Faith Hope and Charity Cancer Ministries: Catholic Charities Spirituality and Breast Cancer 4)Rhonda Holbert Celebrate Life Cancer Ministries: Exploring Funding Sources “Electronic Cancer Support”5)Eudora Mitchell – Witness Project: Avon “Emotional Wellbeing in BCS” 6)Tracy Mosbey – Rushing for Life: Entertainment Industry “Using Media to Improve Outcomes” 7)Lucy Young – Herald Cancer Association: Komen “Joy Luck Club. ”For the planning grant, Women of Color (WOC), along with Dr. Ashing-Giwa at the City of Hope Center of Community Alliance for Research and Education (CCARE), will implement a comprehensive support group and research methodology training and complete the data analysis of the pilot data for this planning grant. These two aims will provide valuable information to inform and strengthen the Full Award resubmission and these aims are responsive to the reviewers’ comments.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Community involvement:, we also propose to train 12 coalition members identified as emerging leaders and support group leaders. All trainings will be conducted using a team approach by the leadership of the coalition Carolyn Tapp, Vickie Race, Nettie Almada, Rhonda Holbert, Virginia Martin and Dr. Ashing-Giwa; all have conducted community trainings in their advocacy work. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Innovative elements: The findings have the potential for translation into broad community benefit and community clinical practice through: 1) a better understanding of a support group setting, 2) the utility of the guidebook to inform the development of support groups for African Americans and other underserved survivors, 3) research
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Future Plans: Women of Color (WOC) and Dr. Ashing-Giwa (CCARE), will submit a Full Award application to carefully study and compare the QOL changes among AABCS who participate in support groups and those who do not.