Community Outreach Events Research Articles

Abstract A107: Be Part of the Cure Clinical Trials Campaign: Koreans, Hispanic/Latino/a/e/x, and Black/African Americans living in Los Angeles County

Abstract Background. There is negative perception and lack of participation in clinical trials among Koreans, Hispanic/Latino/a/e/x, and Black/African Americans living in Los Angeles County, which may be attributed to cultural beliefs, language barriers, historical mistrust of medical research, and lack of awareness about the benefits of participation. Without representation from diverse groups, there may be missed opportunities to develop personalized treatment approaches tailored to specific genetic, cultural, and lifestyle factors. Methods. Cedars Sinai Cancer Community Outreach and Engagment (COE) developed a multi-level approach to increase representation of minority populations in clinical trials. With active Community Advisory Board involvement in the development and implementation, a culturally sensitive clinical trials awareness campaign, “Be Part of the Cure”, was developed to offer in-language cancer information, education on clinical trials, and navigation through the cancer care continuum. To support patients and facilitate access to trials, COE has developed bi-directional engagement between CCSC physicians, nurses and Clinical Trials Office representatives, FQHCs, and community and faith-based organizations to ensure a seamless navigation process to care. Additionally, our multicultural and multilingual COE staff have trained Community Health Workers and navigators to expand our outreach efforts and effectively engage our target communities. Results. In total, COE has facilitated 7 health education workshops and attended 3 community outreach events with 501 people educated (37% or 184 Black/African American; 25% or 123 Asians; 17% or 87 Hispanic/Latinx; and 21% or 107 White). Pre/post-tests administered to 73 Koreans during health education workshops showed significant increase in positive perception on clinical trials from 57% to 95%. Korean (n=9) cancer patients have expressed interest in clinical trials, and 1 have been enrolled in Neoadjuvant HER2-Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy with Pembrolizumab clinical trial. Among Hispanic/Latinx/a/o community, 1 clinical trials health awareness workshop was convened with clinicians who presented to promotores, patients, caregivers, survivors and community members. There were 25 people who completed the pre/post test. There was an increase in positive perception on clinical trials from 52% to 100%, willingness to participate from 60% to 96%, and likelihood of encouraging others to participate from 60% to 96%. In the Black/African American community, 1 clinical trials health awareness workshop was also convened. Among attendees, 21 people completed Pre/Post Test and positive perception on clincal trials increased from 47% to 85%, willingness to participate from 43% to 81%, and likehood on encouraging others to participate from 52% to 81%. Conclusion. Efforts to increase diversity and inclusion in clinical trials should focus on culturally sensitive recruitment strategies, language accessibility, community engagement, and building trust between researchers and communities. Citation Format: Ghecemy Lopez, Dong Hee Kim, Zul Surani, Lourdes Barajas. Be Part of the Cure Clinical Trials Campaign: Koreans, Hispanic/Latino/a/e/x, and Black/African Americans living in Los Angeles County [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A107.

Abstract B024: Be your own fan: Who do you get screened for?: A culturally sensitive and community-vetted colorectal cancer awareness campaign tailored for the Filipino community in Los Angeles County

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer among Filipina women and third among Filipino men, especially in Los Angeles County with the second largest concentration of Filipinos and immigrants. Recent trends show that Filipino experience late-stage diagnosis and lower survival rates. Despite the large number of Filipinos working in healthcare industry dedicated to caring for others, many Filipinos neglect to prioritize their own health and well-being. In collaboration with the Art Center College of Design, Cedars Sinai Cancer Center Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) developed a colorectal cancer awareness campaign, "Be Your Own Fan: Who do you get screened for?" aiming to evoke emotion and prompt reflection on the importance of health through storytelling, imagery, and tailored health materials (i.e., traditional hand fan, infographics, t-shirts, tote bags, stickers, photocards). Methods To determine relevance of the health campaign, five 1 hour semi-structured focus groups were conducted both in English or Tagalog via Zoom with n=23 adults ages 18 and over who self-identify as Filipino to provide community input on appropriateness of the messaging, colors, symbols, and community engagement approach. Participants were recruited through snowball sampling at in-person community outreach events, and email distribution. Results Participants represented diverse professions such as nursing, home healthcare/caregiving, public health, and accounting. Majority were 69% middle-aged adults, 57% female, and 4% colorectal cancer survivor. Research findings show that Filipinos take pride in their traditional culture, particularly in the use of Philippine flag colors (red, blue, yellow, and white) in health materials as opposed to other hues or tints. Either English or conversational Tagalog were preferred languages since it may be challenging to represent over 100 different languages spoken by Filipinos. Lastly, featuring stories and images of trusted community figures like healthcare professionals, church and community leaders, and family members are effective in pulling the heartstrings of the Filipinos to empower them to be their own fan/advocate. With this feedback, the campaign has been revised and deployed in the community and preliminary findings with n=77 people reached indicate increased awareness on colorectal cancer and intent to get screened. Conclusion. Developing health campaigns that closely reflect the community they serve can lead to increased awareness, participation, and adherence to health recommendations and behaviors. Citation Format: Reener Balingit, Mark Bondoc, Dong Hee Kim1, Zul Surani. Be your own fan: Who do you get screened for?: A culturally sensitive and community-vetted colorectal cancer awareness campaign tailored for the Filipino community in Los Angeles County [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B024.

Prototype Facial Response to Cute Stimuli: Expression and Recognition.

Cute, kindchenschema stimuli can evoke a suite of cognitive, physiological, and behavioral tendencies thought to promote caregiving. This research investigated facial expression elements associated with this response to cuteness and assessed the recognizability of an expression combining these elements. In Studies 1 and 2, participants at a community outreach event (Study 1, n = 19) and undergraduate students (Study 2, n = 103) showed spontaneous facial displays while watching videos/photos of baby humans and animals. These were Facial Action Coding System (FACS)-coded, revealing characteristic and statistically distinctive action unit elements of facial expression responses to cuteness. In six follow-up online studies (combined N = 962), including replications with Syrian refugees (n = 103) and Chinese samples (n = 222), a "cuteness prototype" expression combining all elements identified across Studies 1 and 2 (i.e., oblique brows, chin raise, lip tightening, and Duchenne smile) was commonly interpreted as a response to cuteness. These findings add to a growing literature about caregiving-focused motivational states and associated emotion/affect.

Strategies for Identifying and Recruiting Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer for Research Outside of Clinical Settings: Observational Study.

Research is needed to understand and address barriers to risk management for women at high (≥20% lifetime) risk for breast cancer, but recruiting this population for research studies is challenging. This paper compares a variety of recruitment strategies used for a cross-sectional, observational study of high-risk women. Eligible participants were assigned female at birth, aged 25-85 years, English-speaking, living in the United States, and at high risk for breast cancer as defined by the American College of Radiology. Individuals were excluded if they had a personal history of breast cancer, prior bilateral mastectomy, medical contraindications for magnetic resonance imaging, or were not up-to-date on screening mammography per American College of Radiology guidelines. Participants were recruited from August 2020 to January 2021 using the following mechanisms: targeted Facebook advertisements, Twitter posts, ResearchMatch (a web-based research recruitment database), community partner promotions, paper flyers, and community outreach events. Interested individuals were directed to a secure website with eligibility screening questions. Participants self-reported method of recruitment during the eligibility screening. For each recruitment strategy, we calculated the rate of eligible respondents and completed surveys, costs per eligible participant, and participant demographics. We received 1566 unique responses to the eligibility screener. Participants most often reported recruitment via Facebook advertisements (724/1566, 46%) and ResearchMatch (646/1566, 41%). Community partner promotions resulted in the highest proportion of eligible respondents (24/46, 52%), while ResearchMatch had the lowest proportion of eligible respondents (73/646, 11%). Word of mouth was the most cost-effective recruitment strategy (US $4.66 per completed survey response) and paper flyers were the least cost-effective (US $1448.13 per completed survey response). The demographic characteristics of eligible respondents varied by recruitment strategy: Twitter posts and community outreach events resulted in the highest proportion of Hispanic or Latina women (1/4, 25% and 2/6, 33%, respectively), and community partner promotions resulted in the highest proportion of non-Hispanic Black women (4/24, 17%). Although recruitment strategies varied in their yield of study participants, results overall support the feasibility of identifying and recruiting women at high risk for breast cancer outside of clinical settings. Researchers must balance the associated costs and participant yield of various recruitment strategies in planning future studies focused on high-risk women.

Factors Influencing Older People's Intentions to Vaccinate.

Vaccination is crucial in reducing the spread of disease and improving overall patient mortality. Limited information exists regarding pharmacist accessibility outside traditional medical settings or impact on older patients' intention to vaccinate. This study aimed to examine patient perceptions regarding pharmacist accessibility and vaccination intention. Researchers used a quantitative research method of older people from Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. A survey was given to community-dwelling older people who attended different vaccine clinics. The survey included 10 questions describing reasons for not receiving vaccines in the past, how likely they are to receive vaccines if administered at community events, and the importance of having easy access to vaccines. For Likert-type items, a 5-point scale was used. The surveys were collected electronically and anonymously from several community events. Aggregate data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. One hundred seventy-eight responses were collected. The average age of participants was 75 years, and 70.8% were females. Of the respondents, 44.9% preferred to receive vaccines at a community center, 17.4% at the doctor's office, 4.5% at a clinic, and 9.6% at a sporting event like a boxing match. Men were more likely to receive a vaccine at a sporting event, while women were more likely to be interested in receiving a vaccine at a community center (P < 0.05). Respondents somewhat agreed (median = 4, interquartile range = 3-5) that they do not have transportation to places with vaccines. Age was significantly and negatively correlated with educational attainment (P < 0.001). However, as participants' ages increased, they were significantly more likely to have a belief that vaccines do not work (P = 0.011). The study addressed how pharmacists should consider more community outreach events in convenient locations, like community centers, for older people to improve vaccination rates.

Experiences in Recruitment for Hispanic, Non-Hispanic Black, and Other Non-White Cancer Survivors Through Community Outreach and Other Targeted Approaches

ObjectivesRecruitment of racial/ethnic underserved populations in oncology research is essential to address health disparities. This article presents strategies and lessons learned from community outreach and other approaches for recruiting non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and other non-White survivors of cancer into a pilot study that investigated biopsychosocial determinants of health behaviors. MethodsWe critically examined the participant recruitment approaches to explore challenges and successful strategies and develop recommendations for future studies. Direct recruitment strategies included engaging with research staff members’ personal community contacts/liaisons and participating in community outreach events (eg, farmers’ markets, block parties, library events, cancer awareness events). Indirect recruitment strategies included posting and distribution of study flyers in community centers (eg, LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA, churches, libraries), online platforms (eg, FORCE, Survivor Journey website), and invitation letters sent to individuals identified as eligible through a single state cancer registry. ResultsBetween April 2022 and May 2023, among the 64 individuals recruited, 36 were non-Hispanic Black, 25 were Hispanic, and three were American Indian/Alaska Native people. The use of a state cancer registry (64.1%), snowballing/word of mouth (7.8%), and advertisement through an established cancer support organization (ie, FORCE) website (7.8%) were the most effective strategies in this study. ConclusionRecruitment of non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and other non-White people into biobehavioral studies through community-engaged research is challenging and requires long-term commitment and engagement with partners from target communities and affiliated organizations. Implication for Nursing PracticeRegistries and community outreach events can build trust for successful enrollment. Using multiple strategies can provide the best opportunities to reach diverse populations and enroll them in cancer-related research studies.

Abstract 3472: Tailored cancer outreach efforts of a community outreach core working with Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders in Hawaiʻi

Abstract Background The Community Outreach Core (COC) of the Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Health Equity (PIPCHE) aims to improve health equity for historically underserved populations including Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs), and Filipinos. PIPCHE is a partnership between the University of Hawai’i Cancer Center and the University of Guam whose efforts are focused in Hawaiʻi, Guam and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI). The COC directly addresses the disproportionately high rates of health disparities and cancer incidence and mortality found within NHOPIs often due to multiple complex historical, social, cultural, and environmental factors. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Hawai’i between 2014-2018, as well as the second most common cause of death in nearly all USAPI jurisdictions. The COC uses research-tested, community-engaged approaches to modify determinants of cancer in these groups. Methods Outreach efforts have addressed NHOPI cancer inequities by raising awareness of high cancer burdens experienced by these underserved communities. Efforts include resource sharing and data collection at various venues in Hawaiʻi such as health/wellness fairs, public housing, and Pacific Islander churches. Outreach Advisory Council meetings were held biannually with community health leaders to discuss ongoing and future initiatives/resource sharing. The COC provided health providers and students with cultural competency training on more efficient strategies to work with these unique NHOPI groups. The COC provided presentations and short talks across the U.S, including a Health Providers Symposium on lung cancer across the Pacific. Outreach efforts have included tailored NCI-based Screen to Save (S2S) colorectal cancer education to NHOPIs. Results Forty-seven major outreach events were conducted from 2021 to November 2023. These include: 1 Health Providers’ Cancer Symposium, 5 Outreach Advisory Council meetings, 5 Cultural Competency trainings and class lectures, 11 conference/community and short talk presentations, and 25 community outreach events. There were 1,900 attendees reached during these regional and national outreach activities. The COC works with professional audiences at the national level to inform these groups about cancer and the health burdens of NHOPIs. A total of 97 Pacific Islanders received the S2S education and completed a pre-posttest with positive increases in means found for all 14 questions. Conclusion The PIPCHE COC has been able to reach NHOPIs though community partnerships to deliver culturally tailored cancer prevention education and efforts within Hawaiʻi, as well as shed light nationally of the cancer burdens these populations face. The S2S education has been able to raise awareness of cancer screenings and holds promise as a potential strategy to address cancer burdens of NHOPI communities. Citation Format: Mark Lee Willingham Jr., Kevin D. Cassel, Angela Sy, Munirih Taafaki, Tressa P. Diaz, Antoinette Kleiner, Angelina Mummert. Tailored cancer outreach efforts of a community outreach core working with Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders in Hawaiʻi [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3472.

RREACT: A mobile multidisciplinary response to overdose.

Opioid overdose is a leading cause of death in the United States, and engaging with patients following overdose to provide harm reduction and recovery resources can prove difficult. Quick response models use mobile, multidisciplinary teams to establish a time-sensitive connection between individuals who overdosed and harm reduction and recovery resources that improve outcomes. These quick response models are consistent with the broader field of mobile-integrated health programs that are growing in number and acceptability, though the literature base is sparse and programs vary. We describe the 5-year reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework of the Rapid Response Emergency Addiction and Crisis Team (RREACT), a fire/emergency medical services-led, multidisciplinary (firefighter/paramedic, law enforcement officer, social worker) mobile outreach team. RREACT provides harm reduction, linkage/transportation to care and wrap-around services to individuals following a nonfatal opioid overdose that resulted in an emergency response in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, United States. Between 2018 and 2022, RREACT made 22,157 outreach attempts to 11,739 unique patients. RREACT recorded 3,194 direct patient contacts during this time, resulting in 1,200 linkages to care: 799 direct transports to opioid use disorder treatment and 401 warm handoffs to community treatment agencies. Furthermore, RREACT's staffing increased from 4 full-time equivalent staff in 2018 to 15.5 in 2022 and was supported by the surrounding community through 287 community outreach events and the development of an alumni program. These preliminary results further support the deployment of multidisciplinary mobile outreach teams to increase access to harm reduction and recovery resources following opioid overdose.

Baseball Injury Prevention Through a Community Outreach Initiative.

Sports-related craniofacial injuries account for 10% to 42% of facial fractures in the US pediatric population, with the incidence of injury peaking at ages 6 to 7 and 12 to 14. The National Survey of Children's Health reported ~5.6 million children between the ages of 6 and 17 participated in baseball in 2021. National Electronic Injury Surveillance System reported 861,456 injuries resulting from baseball and 511,117 injuries resulting from softball in 2021, with ~500,000 of those injuries being to the face/head/neck. While participation in baseball and other youth sports has tremendous physical and mental health benefits, facial and other athletic injuries are concerning beyond the pain and disability caused by the incident itself. Severe injury can result in lost time from school as well as other social activities. Players and their families often experience financial strain as a result of physical trauma as well. The use of protective equipment has decreased the incidence of emergency department visits due to baseball-related trauma, especially mouthguards. However, adherence to using mouthguards is relatively low in baseball, with over 80% of players reporting not being told by a coach to wear mouthpieces. Youth from low-income areas often lack financial means to provide protective equipment and health insurance in the case of injury. The authors, along with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Miami Marlins RBI Program, created an outreach program by which over 400 mouthguards were given to players and caretakers at inner-city baseball and softball programs. Two community outreach events took place in South Florida. One event was held at a University of Miami Men's Baseball Game, and another was held on the opening day of the Miami Marlins RBI Program youth baseball league. In addition to handing out protective equipment and informational pamphlets, a question and answers session was held to discuss injury prevention. In conclusion, our community safety initiative created an interactive dialogue and message to hundreds of youth baseball players about the importance of protective gear to prevent injuries.

Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of Three Outreach Events to Improve COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities in Houston, Texas, 2022.

Lack of access to timely, accurate, and linguistically appropriate COVID-19 information has complicated the dissemination of evidence-based information and contributed to vaccine hesitancy among racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States. We developed community events that provided outreach, education, and access to COVID-19 vaccination to overcome vaccine hesitancy in these communities. Using spatial analysis techniques, we identified 3 communities with low vaccine uptake in Houston, Texas, in fall 2021; engaged 20 stakeholders from these communities via 4 focus groups to understand barriers to vaccination; and developed and implemented 3 COVID-19 vaccine education and outreach events tailored to the needs of these communities in January-March 2022. We used program evaluation surveys to assess attendee characteristics and satisfaction with the events. Vaccinated attendees also completed surveys on what motivated them to get vaccinated. Two communities were predominantly Hispanic, and the third had an equal number of Black and Hispanic residents. Based on community stakeholder input, the study team organized 2 health fairs and 1 community festival featuring dialogue-based COVID-19 vaccine engagement in January and March 2022. Across the 3 events, a total of 865 attendees received COVID-19 education and 205 (24.0%) attendees received a COVID-19 vaccine or booster. Of 90 attendees who completed program evaluation surveys, 81 (90%) rated the outreach event as good or excellent. Of 145 attendees who completed postvaccination surveys, 132 (91%) endorsed ≥1 key program feature as motivating them to either get vaccinated or vaccinate their child that day. Community outreach events are important strategies for disseminating information, building trust, and facilitating COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

CONECTAR: A MINDSET TO INCREASE HISPANIC ENGAGEMENT IN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH

Abstract In-home digital technology affords the opportunity for more precise and ecologically valid assessments of daily activity engagement. However, concerns about loss of privacy can hinder recruitment, especially within communities already underrepresented in research. Literature on effective, culturally tailored recruitment strategies is limited. Herein, we describe strategies employed for an in-home digital technology study with 100% Mexican American representation. Hispanic participants were recruited from the greater San Antonio area. Direct recruitment strategies conducted in both English and Spanish included community outreach events, a participant repository, cross-enrollment with other research studies, and by word of mouth. Mass recruitment strategies included flyer dissemination, newsletters, and digital announcements through community organizations (i.e., Salud America!) and national (i.e., Research Match) and institutional websites. Between September 2022 and February 2023, 31 participants were enrolled out of 154 individuals who were contacted. Of these, 29% were recruited from community events, 22.6% from word of mouth, 19.4% from cross-enrollment, 12.9% from the research repositories, and 16.1% from mass recruitment strategies. The most common reasons for non-enrollment included lack of interest (n=49), screen failure (n=29), and privacy concerns (n=12).Direct recruitment efforts achieved higher rates of enrollment, while mass media campaigns yielded lower responses and resulted in more unsuccessful contact attempts. Understanding the relationship between social networks and research beliefs may be particularly relevant given the Hispanic culture’s collectivist and family-oriented nature. Hence, social network theories, combined with a diffusion of innovation framework, may be advantageous for increasing trust and may consequently improve representation of diverse groups in research.

Advancing Engagement and Enrollment of Older Black Americans in Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia‐Related Research

AbstractBackgroundThe under‐enrollment of racial and ethnic minorities in clinical trials limits the development of culturally tailored disease treatments and preventative strategies. For example, African Americans experience a greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), yet they remain woefully underrepresented in AD research. This limits understanding of how AD may operate differently in black populations, who have a higher burden of socio‐structural determinants of health. To improve older black American enrollment, The NYU Healthy Brain Aging and Sleep Center (HBASC) team developed a method tailored toward increasing minority enrollment in clinical trials by collaborating with community‐based organizations and minority populations to reexamine barriers to trial participation.MethodHBASC conducted a single‐site (New York Metropolitan Area) longitudinal study examining sleep and AD in healthy black adults (aged 60‐75). From the study, barriers to trial enrollment were evaluated on a systemic and individual level. The degree to which each level directly or indirectly contributed to barriers to enrollment was further explored using a series of steps and practices seeking to engage underrepresented communities in research. In doing so, team members established and implemented a community‐focused method called FEED. Study personnel demonstrated the feed method by Finding groups, organizations, and trusted community members to collaborate with, Educating community members, Engaging community members through events and educational seminars, and Delivering resources to the community.ResultThrough collaborations with community leaders and organizations, the study team performed community outreach events, raising disease awareness, sustaining trustful relationships, and providing educational resources. The study team saw ∼50% increase in black participant enrollment through the FEED method. Increased engagement in medical research was accomplished when underrepresented communities were empowered with the tools and resources to make knowledgeable decisions.ConclusionDiverse populations of patients face complex and multifaceted barriers to enrollment in clinical trials. A FEED framework will help address these barriers at an individual and systemic level.

Impact of mobile research unit in SKYLINE trial to broaden trial access in traditionally underrepresented communities

AbstractBackgroundThe SKYLINE prevention trial (NCT05256134) aimed to enroll cognitively unimpaired, elderly, amyloid‐positive adults, which is known to be challenging. Additionally, it is essential to address disparities of access to trials, particularly in underrepresented populations (URPs) where the need to travel to a research site and lack of comfort or distrust of medical providers have been identified as barriers to participation (Alzheimers Dement 2021;17:327‐406). Potential participants in URPs may have limited experience/knowledge of clinical research; therefore, additional community‐based initiatives were launched to improve awareness and education.MethodA mobile research unit (THOR) was designed to visit selected communities and provide education on memory loss and initial access to screening for the SKYLINE trial. THOR was designed to optimize participant experience and study visit flow (Figure), and was strategically operationalized in Florida due to the large prevalence of older adults, high proportions of URPs, and concentration of Alzheimer’s research centers. Two multilingual personnel, representative of the targeted populations and with expertise in outreach within URPs, managed the unit. Community‐based settings were targeted, including community centers, churches, retirement communities, restaurants, and doctors’ offices. In addition to SKYLINE prescreening, THOR offered community‐based memory screenings and memory loss education to help build relationships and trust with communities. A survey was used to assess site staff perceptions of the implementation of THOR.ResultBetween July and November 2022, THOR was deployed at 20 community outreach events; 325 participants were prescreened for SKYLINE (Table 1). Race and ethnicity data were provided by 127 participants at 12 events from Global Alzheimer’s Platform (GAP) Foundation‐partnered sites; 64/127 (50.4%) participants were from an URP. Overall, 80% of surveyed site staff agreed/strongly agreed that THOR had a positive impact on relationship‐building and prescreening rates in URPs (Table 2).ConclusionTHOR was an innovative, strategic way to increase access to SKYLINE by raising awareness of brain health and clinical research in the community. Site survey responses indicated utilization of THOR improved engagement with URPs. Implementation of a mobile research unit with capabilities to perform trial prescreening activities was an effective way to engage potential trial participants including URPs.

The NC Registry for Brain Health: Increasing Access to Brain Health Information and Research in Underserved &amp; Under‐represented Communities

AbstractBackgroundDiverse racial/ethnic representation in scientific studies is crucial for generalizability of results and development of potentially effective treatments. Racially diverse registries with research ready individuals have the potential to fill this gap. However, despite having signed up as part of a research registry and being invited to participate in clinical trials, many do not participate. To better understand research participation, the NC Registry for Brain Health surveyed its members to identify the characteristics of those likely to participate in research studies, their views on research, expectations when joining the group, and impediments to participation.MethodThe NC Registry for Brain Health has been state‐funded since 2018 with goals of increasing access for all to information and research opportunities in brain health. Focused recruitment to under‐served and under‐represented groups across the State occurs through community outreach events sponsored by a five member university network. An email survey was sent to the 5,946 Registry members enrolled as of October 15, 2021.ResultApproximately 10% (n = 576) responded to this anonymized survey. Most were older women with high levels of formal education (Table 1). Despite the Registry’s demographics of 28% African American enrollees, only 8% of the survey respondents self‐identified as African Americans. Most individuals joined the Registry for the joint purpose of getting involved in research and receiving information about brain health (75%). When asked to describe what “brain health research” means, most reported studies involving dementia risk factors and memory testing. All participants had been approached to get involved in studies, but only 60% recalled getting an email invitation. The biggest impediment noted for participating in studies was inconvenient appointment times. The participants also wanted more available studies and more information about the opportunities.ConclusionThis study suggests that most participants in the Registry are seeking to be informed about brain health and have access to research opportunities at times convenient with their schedules. There was an observed gap between African Americans enrolled in the research registry and those who participated in the survey. Addressing gaps in research involvement of under‐represented groups in research is necessary to achieve inclusive representative science.

Advancing Engagement and Enrollment of Older Black Americans in Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia‐Related Research

AbstractBackgroundThe under‐enrollment of racial and ethnic minorities in clinical trials limits the development of culturally tailored disease treatments and preventative strategies. For example, African Americans experience a greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), yet they remain woefully underrepresented in AD research. This limits understanding of how AD may operate differently in black populations, who have a higher burden of socio‐structural determinants of health. To improve older black American enrollment, The NYU Healthy Brain Aging and Sleep Center (HBASC) team developed a method tailored toward increasing minority enrollment in clinical trials by collaborating with community‐based organizations and minority populations to reexamine barriers to trial participation.MethodHBASC conducted a single‐site (New York Metropolitan Area) longitudinal study examining sleep and AD in healthy black adults (aged 60‐75). From the study, barriers to trial enrollment were evaluated on a systemic and individual level. The degree to which each level directly or indirectly contributed to barriers to enrollment was further explored using a series of steps and practices seeking to engage underrepresented communities in research. In doing so, team members established and implemented a community‐focused method called FEED. Study personnel demonstrated the feed method by Finding groups, organizations, and trusted community members to collaborate with, Educating community members, Engaging community members through events and educational seminars, and Delivering resources to the community.ResultThrough collaborations with community leaders and organizations, the study team performed community outreach events, raising disease awareness, sustaining trustful relationships, and providing educational resources. The study team saw ∼50% increase in black participant enrollment through the FEED method. Increased engagement in medical research was accomplished when underrepresented communities were empowered with the tools and resources to make knowledgeable decisions.ConclusionDiverse populations of patients face complex and multifaceted barriers to enrollment in clinical trials. A FEED framework will help address these barriers at an individual and systemic level.

What do outlet’s and provider’s characteristics mean for family planning consumers? A comparative study of Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda

BackgroundThis research investigated the determinants of the number of family planning consumers in Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda, with a focus on outlet’s and provider’s characteristics which are important factors influencing the choice of using contraceptive methods but largely unexplored in previous literature.MethodsWe utilized a unique panel survey on outlet’s in Kenya (n = 1,321), Nigeria (n = 1,255) and Uganda (n = 842), which is part of the Consumer Market for Family Planning conducted in between 2019 and 2020, for the analysis of the pooled data (n = 3,418) and individual country. Random effects Poisson regressions were performed.ResultsThe pooled data results showed that the expected number of consumers were significantly lower in Nigeria and Uganda than in Kenya, and that working experience (provider’s characteristics), types of stores, duration of providing family planning services, participations in community outreach and host community events, and sign of family planning services (outlet’s characteristics) were significant determinants of the number of customers. The results for each country revealed interesting similarities and differences in the determinants across the three countries.ConclusionsThis study sheds light on the relationship between the number of family planning customers and outlet’s and provider’s characteristics, thus providing informative evidence-based to on-going debates on the coverage of family planning services, which is still insufficient in developing countries. As a result, the government’s family planning expenditures should instead prioritize small, private enterprises such as pharmacies or drug stores. Furthermore, it is critical to focus on several critical tasks to improve the qualities of outlets and providers to attract customers, such as ensuring that they are eye-catching, advertising FP services, have professional credentials, fulfil providers’ obligations to counsel contraceptive users, provide long-term services and community care, and have female providers.

Changes in Cancer Screening Knowledge Among a Prospective Cohort of Spanish-Speaking Hispanic Community Outreach Event Participants in Florida and Puerto Rico.

The current study examined cancer prevention and early detection awareness (pre-workshop) and changes in knowledge (from pre- to post-workshop) among Hispanic/Latino (H/L) community members who participated in Spanish-language educational outreach events in Puerto Rico (PR) and Florida (FL). Spanish-language educational outreach events were comprised of an educational session lasting approximately 45-60min and were delivered to groups in rural and urban community settings by a single trained community health educator (CHE). The research team assessed sociodemographic characteristics, personal and familial cancer health history, as well as awareness and knowledge (pre-test) of a range of cancer prevention and screening topics. Following the presentation, participants completed a post-test knowledge survey which also measured likelihood of engaging in cancer screening, cancer preventive behaviors, and cancer research as a result of information presented during the session. Change in the average knowledge score was evaluated using a paired samples t-test. Post-session likelihood of completing cancer screening and preventive behaviors and engaging in cancer research were examined using descriptive statistics and group/site comparisons. The percentage reporting awareness of screening procedures ranged from 33% (PSA test) to 79% (mammogram). H/L in PR reported higher percentage of stool blood test awareness when compared to H/L in FL (χ2(1)= 19.20, p<.001). The average knowledge score increased from 5.97 at pre-test to 7.09 at post-test (Cohen's d=0.69). The increase was significant across all participants (t(315)= 12.4, p<.001), as well as within the FL site (t(124)= 6.66, p<.001, d=0.59) and the PR site (t(190)=10.66, p<.001, d=0.77). Results from this study suggest that educational outreach events delivered to H/L community members by a CHE are valuable strategies to address challenges regarding cancer screening knowledge and engagement in multiple behaviors.

The UC Davis ADRC Cohort Study aimed to use established marketing techniques to recruit African Americans to participate in research and increase the center’s social media presence

AbstractBackgroundThe UC Davis ADRC Cohort Study aimed to use established marketing techniques to recruit African Americans to participate in research and increase the center’s social media presence. African American’s have been historically excluded from research at the same time they are disproportionately impacted by Alzheimer’s Disease. Current recruitment best practices for engaging underrepresented groups in research includes community outreach events, flyers, and recruitment in academic or clinical settings. Contemporary social media marketing methods allow us to reach very specific demographics, which can be helpful to find and recruit groups typically underrepresented in researchMethodWe hired a marketing firm to run a market analysis to identify what our target audience looked like. We developed ad content with people’s motivations for participating in mind. The ads included Alzheimer’s disease awareness, testimonial interviews from research participants, information on the center, or education on dementia. The campaign was a combination of ads through Facebook, google ads, twitter, Instagram, and yahoo ads. We supplemented our advertising with Facebook posts on the ADRC page to create a buzz of conversation around the videos. The ads when clicked on let to the ADC website, YouTube channel, Facebook page, or Study pages where people could sign up to be contacted for recruitment.ResultBecause of the campaign, our ADRC Facebook followers increased by 8%. The data on the participant recruitment funnel was 102 clicks to visit the ADRC recruitment webpage from Facebook Ads; 27 people signed up via study page; 7 were ineligible (usually no study partner); 6 were information seekers (adult children or &lt;65yrs); and 13 were enrolled. The 13 participants completed all study visits that year. This direct marketing campaign netted over half of the annual 20 replacement volunteers needed by the intensive ADRC cohort study that usually takes a full‐time staff person 6‐8 months to recruit. By comparison, direct marketing/recruitment was incredibly efficient.ConclusionResearch centers may benefit from integrating common marketing methods for recruitment of underrepresented groups. There were some difficulties implementing the marketing plan with the IRB and research Center model. More research can be done to evaluate effective strategies for recruiting diverse participants.

Abstract C130: Cervical, breast, and colorectal cancer screening by COVID-19 booster and influenza vaccination status in a sample of women in Puerto Rico

Abstract Background: Recommendation by a healthcare provider is essential for women to seek preventative cancer screening. Research has shown patients are receptive to information about cancer screening given by health professionals administering influenza vaccines. Promotion of cancer screening during vaccination may be particularly important in Puerto Rico (PR), which, relative to the continental United States, has low cervical and colorectal cancer screening rates. Objective: This study aims to determine if receiving the influenza vaccine in the past year or ever receiving the COVID-19 booster is associated with an increased likelihood of women participating in cervical, breast, and colorectal cancer screening in the past year. Methods: Women older than 18 are recruited weekly in different ongoing community outreach events throughout Puerto Rico as part of the Puerto Rico Community Engagement Alliance (PR-CEAL) against COVID-19 disparities. The PR-CEAL outreach team completes an online community survey as part of their field activities. Initial data was collected from February 17th 2022 through May 28th 2022, with data collection currently ongoing. Pearson χ2 test or Fisher exact test, as appropriate, was used to quantify the association between participation in cancer screening and vaccination status. Results: As of May 31st, 253 women with a median age of 59 had been recruited. Of these, 56.1% had received the influenza vaccine in the past year, and 52.6% had received a COVID-19 booster. Nearly 52% of women with the booster and 65% without the booster received cervical cancer screening (p-value = 0.29). Women with the booster and those without the booster (75% each) received breast cancer screening (p-value = 0.99). Only 16.1% of women with the booster and 11.8% without the booster had received colorectal cancer screening (p-value = 0.99). Receipt of cancer screening according to influenza vaccine status was as follows: 59.3% vaccinated and 51.5% unvaccinated received cervical cancer screening (p-value = 0.35); 31.4% vaccinated and 41.2% unvaccinated received breast cancer screening (p-value = 0.56); and 13.1% vaccinated and 9.3% unvaccinated received colorectal cancer screening (p-value = 0.46).Conclusions: No differences in receipt of cancer screening were found by influenza or COVID-19 booster vaccination status among adult women in Puerto Rico. Routine vaccination appointments may therefore represent a missed opportunity to promote cancer screening. Citation Format: Katherine A. Hill, Cynthia M. Pérez, Adriana Pons, Karelys Canales Birriel, Andrea López Cepero, Norangelys Solís Torres, Zaydelis Tamarit Quevedo, Vivian Colón-López. Cervical, breast, and colorectal cancer screening by COVID-19 booster and influenza vaccination status in a sample of women in Puerto Rico [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr C130.

1965. Promoting COVID-19 Health Equity through Partnership with Community-Based Organizations and Home Vaccination Services

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minority groups. The Fulton County Board of Health (FCBOH) sought to promote COVID-19 health equity by partnering with Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to address access barriers and increase vaccine acceptance in Black and Latinx residents. These priority populations were identified using data from the Social Vulnerability Index, the COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index, and local data regarding COVID-19 positivity and death rates. Methods With support from the Centers for Disease Control, FCBOH partnered with CORE to deploy mobile units that provided free at-home vaccination services to Fulton County residents. CORE promoted their services in zip codes identified as having higher proportions of Black and Latinx residents. Additionally, CORE partnered with three CBOs that represented and had pre-existing relationships with our target populations. These CBOs promoted CORE’s at-home services to their constituents. CORE also provided vaccination and health education services at community outreach events hosted by the CBOs as well as at clinics operated by the CBOs. Results Between the months of September 2021 and March 2022, our programs were able to provide a total of 897 vaccinations - 510 (57%) at community events, 330 (37%) through at-home services, and 54 (6%) in community-based clinics. Among the 714 vaccinations for which race and ethnicity information were available, 348 (49%) were delivered to Black individuals and 326 (46%) vaccines were administered to Latinx individuals. Uptake of vaccines for Black and Latinx individuals was highest at community events (54% and 88%, respectively), followed by at-home services (35% and 12%, respectively). Conclusion At-home vaccination services and partnerships with local CBOs can support a higher proportion of COVID-19 vaccinations administered to populations most at-risk. Notably, community events were the most effective settings for administering vaccines to these populations. Utilizing these methods can help overcome barriers to accessing healthcare and ultimately reduce COVID-19 health disparities in underserved minority communities. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.