Abstract CT158: Addressing the clinical trial participation of underrepresented minorities at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCCC) through the National Outreach Network Community Health Educator (NON-CHE) Program

Introduction: Certain cancer rates disproportionately affects Hispanic/Latinas, indigenous women from Latin America (Amerindians, Mayans, Mixtecs, Zapotecs, Nahua-Pipil), African Americans, and other underrepresented minorities (URMs) in Los Angeles County (LAC). Some of the barriers these minorities face such as socioeconomic status, language, and other systemic barriers cause greater disparities among them which contributes to a tendency of lower participation rates in Clinical Trials (CTs). Partnerships with the Lazarex Cancer Foundation through Project IMPACT - Improving Patient Access to Cancer Clinical Trials- were created to support the financial and patient navigation for underrepresented minority participation in CTs at USC NCCC. Currently, 68% percent of overall patients enrolled in clinical trials at USC Norris are URMs which is reflective of the USC Norris catchment area. Also, 74% percent of participants in Project IMPACT are URMs which shows the benefits of a culturally responsive approach to patient engagement. The NON-CHE program at USC NCCC focuses on a culturally and language specific based approach to increase CTs awareness and enrollment in underrepresented minorities. Methods: To foster CTs participation and to address these disparities, the NON-CHE conducts outreach, education, and engagement efforts in LAC, the catchment area of the USC Norris. Health education interventions are delivered in interactive community research meetings and their effectiveness assessed through CTs related pre-and post-test surveys and at 3-months and 6-months following attendance. Partnerships with the Lazarex Cancer Foundation/Project IMPACT will be used to recruit and refer patients to existing CTs at USC Norris. Education materials developed and culturally adapted will help convey messages in Spanish and indigenous language and in culturally appropriate ways using infographics, presentations, and focus groups to test educational/outreach materials for cultural appropriateness, literacy, and numeracy levels. Results: A total of 28 monthly outreach activities have been conducted since the beginning of the program (November 2019) with Latinx and other minority groups sharing information on cancer related programs and clinical trials at USC Norris. Conclusion: Improving access to information on CTs participation may be more effective if culture, language, and systemic barriers affecting the underrepresented minorities in the catchment area of the USC Norris are taken into account. Citation Format: Lourdes Baezconde, Juan Carmen, Carolina Aristizabal. Addressing the clinical trial participation of underrepresented minorities at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCCC) through the National Outreach Network Community Health Educator (NON-CHE) Program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr CT158.