Abstract
Purpose of ReviewBreast cancer disproportionately affects racial/ethnic minority women compared with their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Community-based researchers have long sought to reduce breast cancer-related health disparities using the core principles of community outreach and engagement. The primary goal of this paper is to discuss community outreach and engagement (COE) strategies in the context of breast cancer disparities and discuss evidence-based applications of COE.Recent FindingsEvidence-based COE to address breast cancer disparities include patient navigation, co-development of community-based interventions, advisory boards, and patient boards. Recent strategies have included partnering with the Komen Tissue Bank, the development of culturally tailored expressive writing interventions, and the formation of community scientist and community mentorship programs.SummaryPartnering with the community across all stages of research can help eliminate breast cancer disparities. We find that community outreach and engagement can improve intervention efficacy, clinical trial retention, and community commitment. We hope that this paper will promote greater adoption of evidence-based COE strategies to help eliminate breast cancer disparities.
Highlights
Breast cancer alone accounts for 30% of female cancers [1] and disproportionately affects specific groups
African American women have the highest rates of breast cancer mortality compared with all racial/ethnic groups and lower 5-year relative survival compared with white women [2]
Among Hispanic women, breast cancer is diagnosed at later stages [3] and is the leading cause of cancer-related death [4]
Summary
Breast cancer alone accounts for 30% of female cancers [1] and disproportionately affects specific groups. Through a need assessment among local African American women, the researchers identified salient logistical, emotional, and cultural barriers to mammogram uptake such as insurance, cost, transportation, fear of the outcome, anticipated pain during the screening, and the belief that faith would protect them from cancer [24] These identified barriers were addressed in the intervention through various strategies including role modeling (e.g., quotations from women in the community regarding barriers), correcting misinformation, persuasion (by culturally congruent navigator), and planning with navigator to cope with logistical barriers. To illustrate relevant strategies in engaging community members, we provide a case study of implementing a randomized controlled trial among Chinese immigrant breast cancer survivors using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach [41] to implementing the study. All materials were piloted with a focus group of female Chinese breast cancer survivors recruited through a local nonprofit organization serving Chinese cancer patients
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