Cancer-related health behaviors during the COVID 19 pandemic in geographically diverse samples across the US.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic involved business closures (e.g., gyms), social distancing policies, and prolonged stressful situations that may have impacted engagement in health behaviors.

Disparities in lung cancer screening utilization at two health systems in the Southeastern USA.

Purpose: Low-dose computed tomography lung cancer screening is effective for reducing lung cancer mortality. It is critical to understand the lung cancer screening practices for screen-eligible individuals living in Alabama and Georgia where lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. High lung cancer incidence and mortality rates are attributed to high smoking rates among underserved, low income, and rural populations.

Meaningful engagement of people living with cancer: Leveraging breast cancer survivors in a stigma reduction intervention in Tanzania.

Introduction: Cancer-related stigma is a key driver of advanced breast cancer stage in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We developed and tested the impact of a breast cancer survivor-led Stigma reduction intervention (SRI) on stigma and treatment adherence of newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer in Tanzania.

Methods: Breast cancer survivors were trained on breast cancer knowledge and motivational interviewing.

Preoperative Education is Associated with Adherence to Downstream Components and Outcomes in a Colorectal Surgery Enhanced Recovery Program.

Objective: This study evaluated the association between preoperative education and adherence to downstream components of enhanced recovery programs (ERPs) and surgical outcomes among patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.

Background: ERPs improve outcomes for surgical patients. While preoperative education is an essential component of ERPs, its relationship with other components is unclear.

Building Capacity for Cervical Cancer Prevention in U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands: The Pacific Against Cervical Cancer Project.

The U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) have higher cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates and lower screening coverage compared with the United States.

Cascade genetic testing: an underutilized pathway to equitable cancer care?

The Precision Medicine Initiative was launched upon the potential of genomic information to tailor medical care. Cascade genetic testing represents a powerful application of precision medicine and involves the process of familial diffusion or the "cascade" of genomic risk information. When an individual (proband) is found to carry a cancer-associated germline pathogenic mutation, the information should be cascaded or shared with at-risk relatives.

Experiences of Family Communication and Cascade Genetic Testing for Hereditary Cancer in Medically Underserved Populations-A Qualitative Study.

Unlabelled: We sought to explore the intrafamilial communication and cascade genetic testing (CGT) experiences of patients with hereditary cancer from diverse, medically underserved populations and their relatives. Participants included patients receiving oncology care at an urban, safety net hospital in Texas or comprehensive cancer center in Alabama and their first-degree relatives. In-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews were completed wherein patients shared their experiences with genetic counseling (GC), genetic testing (GT), and communicating their results to relatives.

Physical Activity among Colorectal Cancer Patients and Survivors in Egypt.

Introduction: Understanding physical activity (PA) levels is important when developing tertiary cancer prevention interventions, especially in Egypt where colorectal cancer (CRC) is more often diagnosed at later stages and at a younger age of onset (≤40 years).

Methods: We assessed PA levels among CRC patients and survivors in Alexandria, Egypt. All participants completed two self-reported PA assessments: Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ).

Examining Racial/Ethnic and Income Disparities on Tobacco Product Use Among US Adults Within Wave 5 of the PATH Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the interactions between race/ethnicity and income across different types of tobacco products.

Methods: The prevalence of past 30-day use of cigarettes, traditional cigars, cigarillos, filtered little cigars, and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) among adults was examined by race/ethnicity and income levels based on wave 5 (2018-2019) data of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study.

Results: Multivariate analysis across race/ethnicity and income showed that, although non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs) were significantly more than likely to smoke cigarettes than non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs) at low- and high-income levels, such disparity only applied to low-income Hispanics compared with low-income NHWs.

A machine learning-based model for a dose point kernel calculation.

Purpose: Absorbed dose calculation by kernel convolution requires the prior determination of dose point kernels (DPK). This study reports on the design, implementation, and test of a multi-target regressor approach to generate the DPKs for monoenergetic sources and a model to obtain DPKs for beta emitters.

Methods: DPK for monoenergetic electron sources were calculated using the FLUKA Monte Carlo (MC) code for many materials of clinical interest and initial energies ranging from 10 to 3000 keV.

A Machine Learning based model for a Dose Point Kernel calculation.

Purpose: Absorbed dose calculation by kernel convolution requires the prior determination of dose point kernels (DPK). This study shows applications of machine learning to generate the DPKs for monoenergetic sources and a model to obtain DPKs for beta emitters.

Methods: DPK for monoenergetic electron sources were calculated using the FLUKA Monte Carlo (MC) code for many materials of clinical interest and initial energies ranging from 10 to 3000 keV.

An Update on Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in the United States.

Cervical cancer remains a significant disease in the United States. Although the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been approved for those aged 9-26 years and for some individuals up to age 45 years, there are many circumstances in which health care professionals may not know whether the vaccine should be recommended, such as for patients with previous infection, health care workers, and those older than age 26 years. This article highlights the evidence that the HPV vaccine is a safe and highly effective way to prevent cervical cancer, with the strongest predictor of vaccine uptake being practitioner recommendation.

Increased disparities associated with black women and abnormal cervical cancer screening follow-up.

Background: To determine whether race and ethnicity impacts patient adherence to follow-up for colposcopy after abnormal cervical cancer screening.

Methods: This retrospective chart review included women that were randomly selected from patients presenting to our colposcopy clinic from 1/2019 to 12/2019. Inclusion criteria were females age ≥21 years-old and appropriate referral for colposcopy.

Healthcare Access in Rural Alabama: Patients' Perspective on Access and Utilization.

Objectives: Increasing healthcare access is a Healthy People 2030 priority. This study examined healthcare access from the residents' perspective in the two most rural counties in the United States and compared the findings with data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in rural and urban counties in Alabama.

Methods: We conducted an in-person population-based survey using cluster sampling within census tracts assessing health insurance coverage, having a usual primary care provider, having had a routine healthcare visit within the past year, and barriers to care.

Using Intervention Mapping to Develop a Theory-Based Intervention to Promote Colorectal Cancer Screening in Egypt.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality rates are increasing in Egypt. Because no national screening guidelines exist, developing an effective evidence-based screening intervention could lower rates by early detection of pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions and polyps. This paper describes the development of a CRC screening intervention in Alexandria, Egypt using Intervention Mapping (IM).

A Framework for Equitable Partnerships to Promote Cancer Prevention and Control in Rural Settings.

Rural populations continue to experience persistent cancer disparities compared with urban populations particularly in cancers that can be prevented or detected early through screening and vaccination. Although the National Cancer Institute and the larger cancer research community have identified rural community partnerships as the foundation for reducing the disparities, we have identified limited application of community-based participatory research in cancer prevention and control research. Guided by the Community-Based Participatory Research Conceptual Model and our collective experience, we provide a framework for a community-cancer center partnership that focuses on promoting health equity.

Efficacy of a Gender-Relevant Smoking Cessation Intervention Among Women in Brazil: Findings from a Group Randomized Controlled Trial.

There is scarcity of smoking cessation programs that take gender into account during its development, implementation, and evaluation. We evaluated the efficacy of a theory-based, culturally, and gender-relevant smoking cessation intervention delivered by Community Health Workers (CHWs) among Brazilian women that augments the smoking cessation program offered through the public health system (PHS). A total of 328 women current smokers (100% cigarette smokers) were recruited across 8 towns in a tobacco producing state in Brazil between 2014 and 2017.

Attitudes toward telemedicine among urban and rural residents.

Introduction: Adoption of telemedicine by healthcare facilities has dramatically increased since the start of coronavirus pandemic; yet, major differences exist in universal acceptance of telemedicine across different population groups. The goal of this study was to examine population-based factors associated with current and/or future use of telemedicine in Alabama.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 532 participants online or by phone, in four urban and eight rural counties in Alabama.

Willingness to participate in various nontherapeutic cancer research activities among urban and rural African American and Latinx healthy volunteers.

Purpose: Inclusion of racial/ethnic minorities in cancer research can reduce disparities in health outcomes; however, data regarding barriers and motivators to participation are sparse. This study assessed African American (AA) and Latinx healthy volunteers' perspectives regarding willingness to participate in noninvasive and invasive research activities.

Methods: Using a 38-item questionnaire adapted from the Tuskegee Legacy Project Questionnaire, we assessed willingness to participate in 12 research activities, offering 27 possible barriers and 14 motivators.

Barriers and facilitators affecting presentation in women with early versus advanced stage cervical cancer.

Background: This study was performed to evaluate the barriers and facilitators associated with patient presentation for early stage (ES) versus advanced stage (AS) cervical cancer (CC).

Methods: A mixed-method approach was used to collect quantitative (i.e.

Effect of misoprostol on type 3 transformation zone of the cervix among Cameroonian women.

Background: Type 3 transformation zone (TZ) of the cervix has been shown to be associated with a four to five-fold increased risk of missed precancerous/cancerous lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intravaginal misoprostol on the TZ among women with Type 3 TZ in Cameroon.

Materials And Methods: A single dose of vaginal misoprostol (400 mcg or 600 mcg) was administered as part of the plan of care for women with Type 3 TZ during cervical cancer screening.

Assessing Hispanic/Latino and Non-Hispanic White Social Determinants of Obesity Among a Community Sample of Residents in the Rural Southeast US.

Employing an ecological approach, we sought to identify social determinants of obesity among Hispanics/Latinos and non-Hispanic whites living in the Southeast US. Data on social determinants of obesity (individual, family, community and cultural/contextual) were collected from 217 participants [106 Hispanics/Latinos; 111 non-Hispanic whites]; height and weight  were objectively measured. We compared prevalence of overweight and obese between ethnic groups and BMI values within each group by social determinants.