Latina Breast Cancer Health Literacy Pilot Project
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: This project builds on an established academic and community partnership between San Diego State University (SDSU) and San Ysidro Health Center, Inc. (SYHC) and focuses on breast cancer health literacy. Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Health literacy is an important component of breast cancer prevention awareness and is related to mammography screening. The goal of this study is to inform the development of a Spanish-language breast cancer health literacy (BC HL) program through formative research. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Question(s) or hypotheses: We hypothesize that our community health center partner can utilize a culturally-tailored intervention approach to address breast cancer disparities among underserved Latina patients. In our pilot study, we will conduct formative research to help us design a program that will focus on breast cancer prevention for Latina patients attending a community health center in the California-Mexico border region of San Diego. 
 
 
 
 
 
 General methodology: This study will use multiple methods to conduct the formative research proposed, including: key informant interviews, focus groups, and a pilot feasibility study. Relevant cultural themes discovered through key informant interviews and focus groups will be used to develop a culturally- and linguistically- tailored group-based breast cancer health literacy (BCHL) educational program. A small feasibility study will examine the newly developed BCHL program’s acceptability, feasibility, and ability to impact BCHL. This project addresses contributing factors associated with breast cancer (BC) health disparities affecting Latinas in California. Specifically, the proposed BCHL program is intended to increase: 1) BC early detection and screening rates, 2) BC preventive behaviors, 3) perceived skills for navigating the health care system. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Innovative elements: Group-based educational programs using community health advisors (promotoras), who are able to deliver culturally sensitive education, have been successful in increasing breast cancer knowledge and mammogram use in Latinas. The use of promotoras to teach breast cancer health literacy to women through nutrition classes is innovative; and these classes are a “teachable moment” for breast cancer education. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Community involvement: The proposed project is community-driven. In 2009, the San Diego Cancer Care Access Partnership (C-CAP) coalition identified a lack of health literacy among San Diego patients as a barrier to cancer control in our community. This study was designed to meet this need. C-CAP, including members of key cancer advocacy groups across San Diego, helped plan and design this project. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Future Plans: At the end of the pilot study, we will work with community partners to share findings with key stakeholders. We will also apply for the full CRC study to examine the pilot BCHL program’s ability to improve: 1) mammography screening rates, 2) ability to navigate the health care system, 3) knowledge of BC prevention, and 4) proactive BC preventive health behaviors (e.g., increased physical activity and smoking cessation).