Abstract A69: Building a pipeline of minority researchers: Minority students' knowledge of cancer health disparities Moira E. Stuart, PhD. Northeastern Illinois University

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Research has shown that cancer disparities disproportionally affect racial, ethnic and underserved populations. This study examined knowledge of cancer risk factors among college students attending a minority serving institution within a P20 funded partnership. Results reflect baseline data used to build a pipeline for students from underrepresented minority (URM) backgrounds to pursue education, research, and careers in cancer health equity professions. Methods: Students (N= 912) attending a Hispanic Serving Institution in the Midwest completed a questionnaire that included questions from the NCI prevalence and survivor facts and general cancer health risk behavior questions from the National American College Health Association Survey. Students ranged in age from 21-64 (m=27), and represented a range of racial/ethnic backgrounds (32% Latino, 10% Black/African American, 10% Asian, and 49% white/Caucasian). Students answered 10 questions about cancer prevalence and morbidity rates among various racial and ethnic populations in the U.S. Example questions included, “What racial ethnic group has the highest overall cancer incidence and death rates for different populations living in the United States?” Respondents were asked to select the correct answer from a choice of five ethnic groups including their own. Responses were analyzed as a dichotomous variable of correct or incorrect providing an accuracy percent for each question. Demographic variables included age, ethnicity, and year in school, and income. Results: Latino males had the lowest accuracy rates (38 %) regarding cancer mortalities and incidences across all ethnicities including their own followed by Latina women at 39%. African American females had slightly higher accuracy of cancer health disparities knowledge with 49% answering accurately. Accurate knowledge levels were lowest among first and second year students (26%); 58% (n = 912) of respondents did not know the cancer incidence and morbidity rates for their own racial or ethnic group. Overall the majority of students (75%) did not know the factors that contribute to cancer health disparities. Knowledge was significantly lower among men, younger respondents and those with less education (P < .001). Discussion: Results for year-one baseline were used to support the development of cancer health equity curriculum and resulted in the successful development and implementation of a health equity course and infusion of cancer content in several other courses. The minority serving institution actively pursued efforts to train their underrepresented students and to build cancer research capacity among junior faculty. Researchers continued to collect data each year for the duration of the P20 collaborative to determine if the infusion of cancer education was effective in developing interest in, and pursuit of, cancer health equity research. Citation Format: Moira E. Stuart. Building a pipeline of minority researchers: Minority students' knowledge of cancer health disparities Moira E. Stuart, PhD. Northeastern Illinois University. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Ninth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2016 Sep 25-28; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A69.