Exploring racial differences in attitudes and barriers toward acupuncture trial participation among breast cancer survivors

Background: Hot flashes are common among breast cancer survivors, with some symptoms being so severe as to disrupt their daily lives. Significant disparities in symptom burden and management have been demonstrated between Caucasian and African American populations. Given that breast cancer survivors use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) extensively, rigorous research is needed to establish evidence for these therapies. It is essential that clinical trials are being designed in a culturally-appropriate manner with emphasis on adequate minority recruitment to address health disparities.

Objective: To identify the attitudes and beliefs of breast cancer survivors toward participating in an acupuncture clinical trial for hot flashes with specific examination of racial and social differences in preference for trial design, recruitment, and conduct.

Methods: Semi-structured in-person interviews developed using the Theory of Planned Behavior. Interviews will be taped, transcribed and coded using a modified grounded theory approach coupled with constant comparative methods. Targeted recruitment size is thirty women with comparable participation of Caucasian and African American patients through purposeful sampling; all post-menopausal women with stage I, II, or III breast cancer who have completed primary cancer treatments.

Outcome: We anticipate significant differences based on racial and socio-economic variables regarding beliefs and attitudes towards participation in an acupuncture clinical trial. By understanding these racial and social differences, we can design and conduct culturally-sensitive acupuncture intervention trials to address symptom control disparities in the experience of breast cancer survivorship.