The state of cancer-focused community outreach and engagement (COE): reflections of Black COE directors.

The requirement of community outreach and engagement (COE) as a major component of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Center Support Grant has had an enormous impact on the way NCI-designated cancer centers identify, investigate, and address the needs of their catchment area (CA) communities. Given the wide-ranging diversity of our nation, COE's scope of work (SOW) is extremely demanding and complex. Yet, COE is often marginalized and viewed as void of scientific methods when, in fact, it requires specialized scientific knowledge and a broad range of proficiencies.

Effectiveness of the socioecological informed contextual treatment summary and care plan (TSSCP-P, Brazil) for breast cancer survivors: a randomized, controlled study.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an intervention using the Treatment Summary and Survivorship Care Plan (TSSCP-P) on self-efficacy and quality of life (QoL) in breast cancer survivors.

Method: A clinical study, randomized and controlled, conducted to assess self-efficacy and QOL in breast cancer survivors. The participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group.

Cervical Cancer Stigma Among Caribbean Population: A Descriptive Paper.

Cervical cancer prevention practices are desperately low in the Caribbean. This study aims to describe the cervical cancer stigma and to evaluate the influence of the prevention practices among the Caribbean non-patient population in Jamaica, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago. A cross-sectional study involving 1,207 participants was conducted using a culturally trans-created Cancer Stigma Scale for the Caribbean context and supplemented with questions on cervical cancer and HPV/HPV vaccine knowledge and beliefs.

Racial disparities in diabetes prevalence among cancer patients.

Introduction: Cancer inequity is one of the most critical public health issues faced by ethnic minorities and people of lower socioeconomic status. The disparate burden of cancer is caused by poor access to care and inadequate delivery of cancer treatment, as well as comorbid and co-occurring conditions. Diabetes is a common and serious comorbid condition of cancer.

Cancer disparities in the context of rurality: risk factors and screening across various U.S. rural classification codes.

Purpose: Prior cancer research is limited by inconsistencies in defining rurality. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of cancer risk factors and cancer screening behaviors across various county-based rural classification codes, including measures reflecting a continuum, to inform our understanding of cancer disparities according to the extent of rurality.

Methods: Using an ecological cross-sectional design, we examined differences in cancer risk factors and cancer screening behaviors from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and National Health Interview Survey (2008-2013) across rural counties and between rural and urban counties using four rural-urban classification codes for counties and county-equivalents in 2013: U.

Spatial and Descriptive Analysis of Smoke and Vape Shop Locations Focusing on A Cancer Center Neighboring Catchment Area.

Tobacco products cause about 1 in 5 deaths premature deaths each year. With increased retailing of both tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) products, cancer centers such as City of Hope are prioritizing tobacco and ENDS control. Therefore, we conducted formative geospatial analyses of dedicated smoke and vape shops linked to neighborhood demographic characteristics.

Tragic Triad of Tobacco Dependence, Cancer, and COVID-19 Pandemic: An Urgent Call for Attention by Health Care Systems and Professionals.

Tobacco smoke is a well-known carcinogen associated with multiple malignancies. Patients with cancer, as well as survivors, who continue to smoke are at a greater risk for poor cancer treatment outcomes. With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is increased frequency and severity of the infection in patients with cancer.

A preliminary prospective study of health-related quality of life among Chinese-American breast cancer survivors.

Purpose: This study examined the predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and changes in HRQOL over a 1-year period among Chinese-American breast cancer survivors (BCS).

Methods: A two-wave longitudinal research design included participants from hospital-based cancer registries and community organizations in Los Angeles. Participants completed mailed questionnaires at baseline and 12-month follow-up.

A pilot randomized trial of an educational intervention to increase genetic counseling and genetic testing among Latina breast cancer survivors.

Latinas are less likely to participate in genetic counseling (GC) and genetic testing (GT) than non-Hispanic Whites. A multisite, randomized pilot study tested a culturally targeted educational intervention to increase uptake of GC/GT among Latina breast cancer (BC) survivors (N = 52). Participants were recruited in Tampa, FL and Ponce, PR and randomized to: (a) fact sheet about BC survivorship (control) or (b) a culturally targeted educational booklet about GC/GT (intervention).

Exploring the association between diabetes and breast cancer morbidity: considerations for quality care improvements among Latinas.

Objective: Cancer and diabetes are two severe chronic illnesses that often co-occur. In cancer patients, diabetes increases the risk for treatment complexities and mortality. Yet patient-reported outcomes with co-occurring chronic illness are understudied.

The big reveal: Family disclosure patterns of BRCA genetic test results among young Black women with invasive breast cancer.

Despite higher incidence and mortality of breast cancer among younger Black women, genetic testing outcomes remain severely understudied among Blacks. Past research on disclosure of genetic testing results to family members has disproportionately focused on White, educated, high socioeconomic status women. This study addresses this gap in knowledge by assessing (a) to whom Black women disclose genetic test results and (b) if patterns of disclosure vary based on test result (e.

Impact of Genetic Testing on Risk-Management Behavior of Black Breast Cancer Survivors: A Longitudinal, Observational Study.

Background: Black women are overrepresented among premenopausal breast cancer (BC) survivors. These patients warrant genetic testing (GT) followed by risk-reducing behaviors. This study documented patterns and predictors of cancer risk-management behaviors among young black BC survivors after GT.

Society of Behavioral Medicine Position Statement: Congress should protect immigrants seeking health care.

According to the Migration Policy Institute (2019), as of 2017 the USA was home to approximately 44 million immigrants, the largest number of immigrants in the world. Most of these immigrants relocate from Mexico, India, China, the Philippines, El Salvador, Vietnam, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. Since 2017, there have been increased reports of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) interventions toward immigrants, especially at and near previously delineated "safe areas" such as medical facilities, as immigrants sought health care.

Considering religion and spirituality in precision medicine.

The emerging era of precision medicine (PM) holds great promise for patient care by considering individual, environmental, and lifestyle factors to optimize treatment. Context is centrally important to PM, yet, to date, little attention has been given to the unique context of religion and spirituality (R/S) and their applicability to PM. R/S can support and reinforce health beliefs and behaviors that affect health outcomes.

Exploring the efficacy of a paraprofessional delivered telephonic psychoeducational intervention on emotional well-being in African American breast cancer survivors.

Purpose: African American breast cancer survivors (AABCS) are underserved in medical and psychosocial care despite greater disease burden. We evaluated the effectiveness of a telephonic psycho-educational intervention trial on improving emotional well-being (EWB) in a sample of AABCS.

Methods: Secondary data analyses with 40 AABCS who reported elevated distress were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group.

Across borders: thoughts and considerations about cultural preservation among immigrant clinicians.

Immigrant clinicians make up 20-28% of the health workforce in many high-income countries, including Australia, Britain, Canada and the USA. Yet, the preserved culture of immigrant clinicians remains largely invisible in the medical literature and discourse. Research on immigrant clinicians primarily attends to medical professional requirements for the adopted country (medical board examination eligibility, fellowship training and licensing).

Impact of breast cancer and quality of life of women survivors.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of breast cancer and the quality of life of women survivors and to identify associations between sociodemographic and clinical variables.

Method: This was a cross-sectional, analytical, quantitative study conducted with women receiving outpatient post-treatment care at a public institution of the city of São Paulo, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Instruments: sociodemographic and clinical questionnaires; Impact of Cancer scale; Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer scale.

A clinically structured and partnered approach to genetic testing in Trinidadian women with breast cancer and their families.

Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer death in Caribbean women. Across the Caribbean islands, the prevalence of hereditary breast cancer among unselected breast cancer patients ranges from 5 to 25%. Moreover, the prevalence of BC among younger women and the high mortality in the Caribbean region are notable.

Assessment of distress and quality of life in rare cancers.

Objective: Rare cancers are a heterogeneous group of conditions that can be associated with emotional and physical impairments. In view of the dearth of research in this area, we investigated the quality of life and prevalence of distress in a cohort of patients diagnosed with a rare cancer, classified by the RARECARE definition.

Methods: A cohort of rare cancer patients, treated in a Brazilian public cancer center, was assessed for distress (Distress Thermometer), anxiety/depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Version).

Biopsychosocial distress and clinical outcome in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Objective: Limited research exists examining the biopsychosocial experience of patients diagnosed with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), a disease commonly associated with a poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to describe rates and types of distress in mRCC patients and explore the relationship between distress and overall survival.

Method: A cohort of 102 patients with mRCC treated at a single institution was assessed by a touch screen-based instrument comprising 22 core items spanning physical, practical, functional, and emotional domains.

Health-related quality of life and care satisfaction outcomes: Informing psychosocial oncology care among Latina and African-American young breast cancer survivors.

Objective: When breast cancer occurs in young women, the medical, physical, psychosocial, and overall impacts can be more severe warranting targeted medical and psychosocial oncology care. Yet, despite their risk for poorer survival and survivorship outcomes, little research has focused on this group with critical gaps concerning ethnic minorities who are particularly medically vulnerable. Therefore, this preliminary study examined demographic characteristics and patient centered outcomes, ie, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), quality care satisfaction to inform targeted psychosocial oncology care among African-American and Latinas young breast cancer survivors (YBCS).

Examining HPV- and HPV vaccine-related cognitions and acceptability among US-born and immigrant hispanics and US-born and immigrant non-Hispanic Blacks: a preliminary catchment area study.

Purpose: Disparities in HPV vaccination exist. Therefore, we investigated the distinction and disparities in HPV- and HPV vaccine-related cognitions and acceptability among US-born African Americans (AA) and Black immigrants, and between US-born Latinas and Latina immigrants.

Methods: Secondary data analyses were conducted with 383 female adults divided into non-Hispanic Blacks-(1) AA born in the US (n = 129) and (2) Black immigrants (n = 53), and Hispanics-(3) Latinas born in the US (n = 57) and (4) Latina immigrants (n = 144).

The association of neighborhood context with health outcomes among ethnic minority breast cancer survivors.

While individual-level determinants of health, such as education and income, have been well documented among breast cancer survivors, little is known about the role of neighborhood context on survivorship outcomes among this population. The present study examined the association of neighborhood stress with multiple health outcomes among ethnic minority breast cancer survivors (BCS). A mixed-methods approach was used to recruit 320 African-American and Hispanic BCS who were 26-89 years and lived in metropolitan Los Angeles, CA.