Processes in Increasing Participation of African American Women in Cancer Prevention Trials: Development and Pretesting of an Audio-Card

Abstract

The enrollment of African American women into cancer prevention trials (CPTs) continues to be low despite their higher cancer mortality rates. Clinical trials are vital to the discovery of new prevention, diagnostic, and treatment methods that improve cancer outcomes. This study addressed attitudes and beliefs associated with the sub optimal participation of African American women in CPTs through the development and pretesting of an educational tool. The use of community-engaged research (CER) in the formative phase of this study was the basis for developing an audio-card. Cultural and linguistic elements were incorporated into the tool's audio and written messages, and visual images highlighted the importance of CPT participation among African American women. The CPT beliefs and behavioral intent of 30 African American women who received information from the audio-card were compared with 30 controls. Findings indicated statistically significant differences at posttest between the control and treatment groups in personal value (p = .03), social influence (p = .03), and personal barriers (p = .0001); personal barriers in the pretest group also demonstrated significant differences (p = .009). Consideration of cultural context and language needs of populations are vital to the development and design of effective health promoting tools.

Linking Education to Action: A Program to Increase Research Participation Among African American Women

“…18 However, studies continue to outline barriers to enrollment of African Americans 19 as well as facilitators, including greater effort and time devoted by study coordinators, and investigator engagement with the community to ensure successful enrollment and participation among African Americans. 20,21 As noted by Strissel, 22 epidemiologic and genetic studies are essential for advances in cancer research, including development of effective targeted therapies for women and minorities, thus it is important to further investigate attitudinal barriers and knowledge gaps with an eye toward intervention. In particular, little is known about attitudes and knowledge of key aspects of epidemiologic and genetic studies, particularly among African American women who are themselves well positioned to participate in research as healthy volunteers and to encourage others; this study endeavored to fill this gap in the literature.…”