Un Abrazo Para La Familia: An Evidenced-Based Rehabilitation Approach in Providing Cancer Education to Low-SES Hispanic Co-Survivors

Abstract

We discuss Un Abrazo Para La Familia as an effective, rehabilitation-informed evidence-based model of education, information-sharing, and skill-teaching for use with low-income Hispanic co-survivors of cancer. Over two years, 120 co-survivors participated in the intervention. The majority of participants (96%) were women and all but one reported being Hispanic. Both in Years 1 and 2, we followed the same pre- and post-intervention evaluation design. Based on pre- and post-intervention assessments of cancer-related knowledge and self-efficacy, the percentage of questions answered correctly about cancer significantly increased for co-survivors. Self-efficacy significantly increased as well. Using item analysis, we explored skill teaching as a mechanism for the effective delivery of Un Abrazo and recommend the use of promotoras in providing the intervention. Of the 12 cancer knowledge items resulting in statistically significant increases of cancer knowledge, 5 were taught via interactive skill-teaching. Given the projected rise in the incidence of cancer in Hispanic populations, coupled with the fact that people from low-income backgrounds face unique challenges in cancer prevention and management, implications of the Un Abrazo model for future research and policy regarding cancer and families are considered.

¿Ahora qué?: Cultural Adaptation of a Cancer Survivorship Intervention for Latino/a Cancer Survivors

“…Our findings regarding the importance of incorporating family and cultural values, and accommodating literacy level are consistent with commonly used strategies for adapting content, or modifying deep‐structure components of health interventions . Similarly, interventions for Latino/a survivors have involved co‐survivors, family members, and caregivers, while others have focused on individual survivors …”

Engaging Latina cancer survivors, their caregivers, and community partners in a randomized controlled trial: Nueva Vida intervention

“…The level of patient-engagement in the design and implementation of the interventions varied, with some studies demonstrating successful methods of engaging Latina survivors [10,13]. Likewise, few studies have examined interventions that involve both Latina survivors and their caregivers [27,30]. One survivor-caregiver intervention led to improvements in QOL for Mexican-American survivors and caregivers [27].…”

Oregon's Familias en Acción replicates benefits for underserved cancer co‐survivors through Un Abrazo Para la Familia

“…Regarding Q2, based on the item‐level analysis of CKQ items, we found that both samples (Arizona and Portland) did not report statistically significant gains from pre to post on the item about nausea. Second, we did not see pregains to postgains for the item about early detection; this question was specific to the Portland sample only.…”

“…Year 2 served as a pilot test of Abrazo's reproducibility, demonstrating it as an effective program that can be disseminated independent of the developer. In both years, results indicated statistically significant improvements for Abrazo participants in cancer knowledge and self‐efficacy . This successful use of trained promotoras provided the basis for the dissemination initiative in Portland, Oregon.…”

“…Abrazo is provided by promotoras (community health workers) trained to deliver the intervention. Participant outcomes include increased cancer knowledge and self‐efficacy . Self‐efficacy is defined as confidence in cancer knowledge .…”