Abstract A16: Invisible men: Men of color in health disparities research

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: As the 21st century has brought a myriad of newfound discoveries for cancer researchers, the inclusion of men of color in this research remains minimal. It is as if men of color are invisible in these discussions and gaps in health disparities widen even as survivorship and treatments expand for other populations. The new focus on precision medicine has created stronger emphasis on expanding the research ideas currently being discussed and examined. The new protocol focus for immunotherapy and use of genetic biomarkers has transformed cancer research because of its ability to create innovative cellular models for cancer cell development. New Methodologies Needed: Clinical trials continue to contain disproportionate representation of African American participants, and yet the gaps that exist within mortality rates and survivorship remain lower among African American participants. The health care/cancer research arena reports outcomes that are satisfactorily accepted as reasonable measures of cancer strategies and outcomes. The significant question is whether these outcomes measures are valid in their findings due to inadequate representation of some groups who are identified as most vulnerable from nonsatisfactory cancer outcomes. Summary: The development of programs targeted toward under-represented populations and evaluation of communications strategies to assess the effectiveness of such programs to improve health outcomes is essential to diminish disparities. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the effectiveness of a community education program and initiative to highlight health disparities among high-risk populations. The Men of Color Health Awareness (MOCHA) initiative has been in existence since 2010 in Springfield, Massachusetts; since its inception it has reached almost 1,000 men of color in educational settings, and some 400 men have participated in its exercise and empowerment programs. MOCHA has been a key player in providing health information and interventions to men of color. Activities include hosting a prostate cancer symposium, recruitment for free PSA screenings, digital story-telling documentation, ongoing participation in community activities, and focusing on domestic violence. MOCHA plays a key role with academic institutions and health organizations in gathering information about health disparities that exist among men of color. Conclusions: A utilization of community-based programs that focus on minority populations can represent an effective strategy and approach to communicate with special populations--particularly as it relates to clinical trials education, recruitment, and accrual. Community-based organizations and faith-based institutions that contain men of color in key leadership roles and positions build trust within the community and may improve accrual and retention in clinical trials research. MOCHA has a Program Coordinator and Outreach Coordinator in key positions and decision-making processes. Men of color remain critical players to include in any outreach approaches. Minority groups will attend educational programs and respond with actions if encouraged by representatives who resemble their population. African Americans will support programs with research focuses and find information beneficial to their overall health. Community-based research is possible and inclusive of real-world experiences. Citation Format: Antonio Delesline, Sanford Earl Jeames. Invisible men: Men of color in health disparities research [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr A16.