Online Program

282643
Empowering Latinas to make informed decisions about breast cancer clinical trials


Sunday, November 3, 2013

Patricia Chalela, DrPH, MPH, IHPR Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistic, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Peter Ravdin, MD, PhD, School of Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, Cancer Therapy & Research Center, San Antonio, TX
Anand Karnad, MD, School of Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, Cancer Therapy & Research Center, San Antonio, TX
Edgar Munoz, MS, The Institute of Health Promotion Research, Dept of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Amelie Ramirez, DrPH, Dept of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Background: Without adequate minority representation in clinical trials, researchers cannot assess differential effects in outcomes or ensure the safety of therapies across a range of biological and genetic characteristics among groups, nor can they ensure generalizability of trial results. In response, this theory-based educational intervention aims to empower Latinas to make informed decisions about breast cancer clinical trials (BCCTs) by enhancing their knowledge, attitudes, skills and self-efficacy required to support discussion of BCCTs as a treatment option with doctors and family members. Methods: This is a cohort study with random assignment of 112 Latina breast cancer patients eligible to participate in a BCCT at the Cancer Therapy & Research Center at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The intervention includes: participation in a culturally sensitive, individually tailored, computer-based BCCTs video; a bilingual, low-literacy booklet; and assistance from a patient navigator. The control includes usual care clinical trial information materials for eligible patients. Results: Preliminary results will be presented. The authors hypothesize that intervention participants will have higher self-efficacy to make a decision about participating in a BCCT and will demonstrate higher self-efficacy expectations and confidence in the system for making a decision about participating in a BCCT trial than participants in the usual care control group. Conclusion: Computer-based videos—if specifically tailored to Latinos—may be a cost-effective strategy to effectively address awareness, cultural and attitudinal barriers and decision making skills needed to make informed decisions about clinical trial participation.

Learning Areas:

Communication and informatics
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe the intervention design and the intervention group components. Name the theories that comprise the intervention's theoretical framework. Identify three theory-based constructs targeted in the intervention to empower Latinas to make informed decisions about participating in breast cancer clinical trials.

Keyword(s): Breast Cancer, Clinical Trials

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have extensive experience in the areas of behavioral science research, and health promotion/health communications with specific focus on Latinos. I have participated as co-investigator in the design, implementation and evaluation of national, regional and local research projects, including computer-tailored interventions and most recently a randomized controlled trial using a second-generation computer-tailored intervention to increase participation of Latinas into breast cancer clinical trials.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.