Abstract
Abstract This presentation describes a campus-community partnership established to address cancer disparities in a medically-underserved neighborhood within a large metropolitan urban area. Over the past several decades, the historically African American area has become increasingly isolated and disenfranchised due to demographic changes in surrounding communities. Pilot studies we conducted show higher than expected mortality rates from certain cancers, a high rate of behaviors that increase their risk for cancer (e.g., tobacco use), and a low rate of routine cancer screening and timely access to cancer treatment. As part of our university cancer center's cancer control and community research initiative to decrease local disparities, we created a network of Community Advisory Boards (CAB) throughout our catchment area. The CAB described here was developed to address documented cancer disparities in an area in close proximity to the university's medical campus. We identified community leaders and conducted 20 key informant interviews. With guidance from the CAB, we conducted a door-to-door survey of 250 randomly-selected households in a public housing development to assess community needs related to cancer and barriers to accessing services. A community-based participatory research (CBPR) model was used to engage the community and establish an economic partnership that benefits the community. Benefits include services and employment opportunities. Employing residents as research assistants has been found to maximize recruitment and community acceptance. To date, funded investigations have been conducted on the following: reducing the high prevalence of tobacco use, early detection of oral cancers using biomarkers, stress management for cancer survivors, and screening for conditions related to other chronic diseases such as diabetes. In addition, the university responded to request for services by conducting free annual health screening and education fairs and offering ongoing smoking cessation resources. We will discuss the successes and challenges of this partnership with a community that has minimal infrastructure but is motivated to improve the health of its residents. We will also describe how CAB members are taking ownership of the process and bringing additional resources to the table. Citation Format: Dorothy F. Parker, Tracy Kelley, Eric Thompson, Erin N. Kobetz. Community involvement in prevention research: A model for reducing cancer disparities. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Sixth AACR Conference: The Science of Cancer Health Disparities; Dec 6–9, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014;23(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A36. doi:10.1158/1538-7755.DISP13-A36
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