Partnering Research Involving Mentoring and Education (PRIME) in Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Abstract : Partnering Research Involving Mentoring and Education in Prostate Cancer (PRIME) was a partnership between two nursing schools, Duke University School of Nursing and North Carolina Central University (NCCU), an historically black college or university (HBCU). We accomplished our goal to build a collaborative relationship between Duke University and NCCU that brought together students and faculty mentors to facilitate opportunities for underrepresented minority students to learn about prostate cancer. To accomplish this goal, we capitalized on the strengths of both universities to conduct a didactic and hands-on training program to expose undergraduate students to prostate cancer prevention, detection, and control research. The objectives of the PRIME program were to provide undergraduate nursing students with mentored experiential learning to (1) understand the burden of prostate cancer, particularly among African Americans; (2) develop a beginning level of competence in technology resources for information gathering and data management in prostate cancer research; (3) obtain introductory knowledge about the research process (4) gain hands-on experience in community-based prostate cancer control activities; and (5) experience role model development for research and healthcare practice careers, and begin to build networks with researchers and health professionals in a Research I environment. A total of 12 undergraduate nursing students participated in this 10-week prostate cancer research mentored experience. The summer mentorship training was held at Duke University School of Nursing in cooperation with the Duke University Medical Center Division of Urology.