Science Literacy &amp; Breast Cancer Clinical Trials Education
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: Many factors contribute to the unequal burden of breast cancer among diverse communities. Clinical trials or “research studies,” offer promising solutions to medical advances. Low participation rates in clinical trials, especially among minorities, are a barrier to the advancement and generalizability of medical knowledge and health impact on survivorship among these populations. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Low participation by minorities is a problem because: 1) it limits researchers’ ability to apply findings to diverse populations; 2) it often means that minorities will be given medical care based on research studies that involved mostly white middle class communities; and 3) it means that the cutting edge medical care options usually associated with clinical research will not be available to minorities. All of these factors contribute to the unequal burden of breast cancer among minorities. One reason why minorities do not participate in clinical trials is lack of information about the role of clinical trials and the importance of participants of diverse characteristics. This pilot study addresses that problem by providing an educational program to increase awareness of, and knowledge about, clinical trials information. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Research questions will not be directly tested in the pilot study. The pilot study will develop the tools needed to test the educational program to be developed. The larger study will test whether participants who receive the educational program (the experimental group) show: 1) increased scientific knowledge about clinical trials and 2) a positive shift in attitudes and behaviors toward clinical trials after participating in the study. This pilot study will also test whether increased knowledge and a positive shift in attitudes and behavior are related. The results in the experimental group will be compared with a group given different information (the control group). The larger study will also test whether the group given the educational program will demonstrate a greater rate of participation in a simple breast cancer-related research study than the control group. Finally, the study will test whether the test group demonstrates greater willingness to become a “Clinical Trials Ambassador” (one who learns about future clinical trials and helps the research team to recruit other participants). Standard questionnaires will be used to help measure change between the two groups of participants. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 This project will focus on creating a single program, called the Scientific Literacy and Breast Cancer Clinical Trials Education Program. This program will be pilot tested with a group of African American and Hispanic American women. The program will use a “sisterhood” theme that will draw all women together against the common enemy of breast cancer. Building on program work already done by the National Cancer Institute, a single education program will be created in English and Spanish. This project will also test group surveys in English and Spanish to assure that they are reliable when used with Hispanic American women. These surveys have already been shown to work well with African American women. After proving the surveys’ reliability, a trial run will be performed with the educational program and surveys with a small group of women. If this plan works, a larger study will be done to determine the effectiveness of the educational program. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 This pilot study will educate women about breast cancer clinical trials and the importance of participation. While it will use many elements of the NCI’s cancer education program, its use of a “sisterhood” theme as its foundation is innovative and is anticipated to appeal to women of all ethnic groups. The program will be tested in English and Spanish with Hispanic and African American women. This project will also evaluate the usefulness of a number of paper and pencil surveys when used with Hispanic Americans. These surveys are commonly used in breast cancer and other research studies, but have not yet proven effective with Hispanic Americans. If this pilot project works, a larger study will follow. If the program is effective it will be made available to other breast cancer researchers and health educators. Community involvement: Focus groups have already contributed direction on the topic and design selected for this study. Community input will continue throughout the project. Staff from the five VCC clinics that serve low income, minority women will advise the research partner. VCC will benefit by gaining research skills and experience in creating partnerships. UCSD will benefit from this partnership by gaining additional experience working with disadvantaged women and enhancing its community connections. The partnership will help both groups better serve the community.