Church-based health promotion (CBHP) interventions can reach broad populations and have great potential for reducing health disparities. From a socioecological perspective, churches and other religious organizations can influence members' behaviors at multiple levels of change. Formative research is essential to determine appropriate strategies and messages for diverse groups and denominations. A collaborative partnership approach utilizing principles of community-based participatory research, and involving churches in program design and delivery, is essential for recruitment, participation, and sustainability. For African Americans, health interventions that incorporate spiritual and cultural contextualization have been effective. Evidence indicates that CBHP programs have produced significant impacts on a variety of health behaviors. Key elements of CBHP are described with illustrations from the authors' research projects.

Only 3% of cancer patients participate in cancer clinical trials (CCTs). A number of barriers to participation, particularly for minority groups, can be addressed through community-focused education and advocacy efforts. Working with community partnerships, a pilot program sought to change knowledge, attitudes, and role behaviors among community leaders, primary care providers (PCPs), and clinical researchers about CCTs, to increase patient awareness of and participation in CCTs. A mixed method evaluation utilized quantitative analysis of surveys administered to participants during the program period (2006-2008) and qualitative data from interviews with key participants. Programmatic efforts were effective in increasing knowledge and training community leaders and PCPs to disseminate messages about clinical trials, and ultimately increasing patient inquiries about local trials. Training improved cultural competency skills among clinical researchers to recruit and retain CCT participants. Partnerships fostered new processes and structures to facilitate CCT participation in their communities. Clinical trials education and advocacy efforts through community partnerships have an important role in enhancing clinical trial access and in increasing clinical trial participation. Oncologists' involvement in and leadership of such partnerships are critical to promoting CCT accrual, particularly for minority groups.

Background Research has demonstrated that communication and care coordination improve cancer patient outcomes. To improve communication and care coordination, it is important to understand Primary Care Providers’ (PCPs’) perceptions of communication with oncologists as well as PCPs’ communication needs. Methods A mixed methods approach was utilized in the present study. In the qualitative phase of the study, 18 PCPs practicing in underserved, minority communities were interviewed about their experiences communicating with oncologists. In the quantitative phase of the study, 128 PCPs completed an online survey about their preferences, experiences, and satisfaction with communication with oncologists. Results Results indicated a PCP-oncologist gap in communication occurred between diagnosis and treatment. PCPs wanted more communication with oncologists, updates on their patients’ prognosis throughout treatment, to be contacted via telephone or email, and saw their role as crucial in providing supportive care for their patients. Conclusions Although PCPs recognize that they play a critical, pro-active role in supporting patients throughout the continuum of their cancer care experience, existing norms regarding post-referral engagement and oncologist-PCP communication often hinder activation of this role among PCPs. Expected standards regarding the method, frequency, and quality of post-referral communication should be jointly articulated and made accountable between PCPs and oncologists to help improve cancer patients’ quality of care, particularly in minority communities.

Background Clinical trials are a critical resource for the discovery of new prevention, diagnostic and treatment methods for cancer. The most effective prevention and treatment modalities are based on previous clinical trial results. However, participation in clinical trials is underrepresented by racial/ethnic minority populations, Asian Americans in particular. Asian Americans are the least represented of any ethnic groups in clinical trials. Objective The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate a culturally and linguistically appropriate community-based educational intervention to increase knowledge of and intent to participate in cancer clinical trials among underrepresented Chinese Americans. Methods Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach was used to guide the development, cultural tailoring, implementation and evaluation of clinical trial intervention. First, 22 Asian community representatives were recruited as community health educators (CHEs) who received 12-hour training on clinical trial education. Second, 262 members were recruited from 11 Chinese community organizations (CBOs). Of those recruited, a total of 247 eligible Chinese enrolled and participated in the clinical trial education delivered by trained CHEs. Participants completed pre-test before and post-test after the intervention. Results Fifteen out of 21 measures of clinical trial knowledge showed significant changes post the intervention (p<.05). Education remained the sole demographic factor increasing clinical trial knowledge in multivariate analysis. Conclusion Clinical trial education should emphasize both benefits to science and the larger Asian community. This community-based clinical trial intervention demonstrated promising results and has potential to enhance recruitment and participation in clinical trial research among the underrepresented Asian Americans.

Objectives Cancer Clinical Trial (CCT) accrual and retention rates remain disproportionately low among African Americans. Awareness and access to trials are crucial facilitators of trial participation. Strategies developed within a community-based participatory framework (CBPR) are potential solutions to increase awareness and access to CCTs. In this study, we describe the pilot phase of three innovative community-centered modules to improve basic CCT knowledge, awareness of locations to access CCT information, and opportunities to participate in CCTs. Design Four community organizations completed Community Bridges to CCTs training-of-the trainer and recruited adult African American volunteers to participate in one of three CCT education modules: a workshop about CCTs; a role-play describing one person's experience with CCTs; or a call and response session reviewing myths and facts about CCTs. Pre- and post-test surveys were collected and analyzed using McNemar agreement statistic to evaluate changes in knowledge and attitudes regarding trials. Results Trainers enrolled 125 participants in the Call and Response (n=22), Role-play (n=60), and Workshop (n=43) modules. Module participants were mostly African American, female, and mean age of 53 years. Comparison of pre and post-test responses demonstrates favorable changes in awareness of CCTs and where to access to CCTs across the sample. Analysis by module type indicates significant increases for participants in the Call and Response (p < 0.01) and Role-Play modules (p < 0.001), but not the Workshop module. Conclusion Despite measures taken to increase the participation and retention rate of African Americans in clinical trials, little advancement has been made. Developing tailored community education modules on CCTs within the CBPR framework is a promising innovation to increase knowledge about CCTs and favorable attitudes about participation that are known precursors to trial enrollment.