The Cancer Forum invites abstracts for oral presentations, symposia, and posters describing original research and innovative intervention programs or policies that address topics including behavioral, genetic, socioeconomic, and environmental risk factors for cancer; prevention and early detection; cancer treatment access and outcomes; clinical trials; cancer disparities; cancer literacy and cancer communication; and cancer survivorship. Special consideration will be given to research pertaining to this year’s conference theme, “Health in All Policies.”  Potential topics include (theme-relevant topics are starred):

• *Ethical, legal, and social implications of policies relevant to cancer prevention and cancer care
  
• *Exploration of policy implications and impact of rapidly emerging discoveries and technologies in genetics (e.g., BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing) and gene-environment interactions in cancer risk and prevention and the need for public and professional education related to these changes
  
• *Influence of local institutional and hospital policies on cancer screening and treatment practices and outcomes
  
• *Influence of “big data” studies (e.g., data from electronic medical records, Medicare and Medicaid) on institutional, state, federal, and insurance company policies that have implications for cancer screening and treatment
  
• *Public health impact of policies or interventions aimed at the reduction of major environmental and behavioral risk factors for cancer and cancer recurrence across the lifespan such as tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, diet, physical activity, obesity, excessive sun exposure, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including human papillomavirus (HPV)
  
• *The role of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations in influencing U.S. and global policies related to cancer screening and cancer care
  
• *Translation of clinical and other best practices into health policy and/or the utilization of health policy to advance practices and reduce disparities in cancer prevention, control, and survivorship
  
• Advances and issues in cancer screening and new best practices
  
• Community organizing and outreach (e.g., through community health workers and other professionals) related to cancer risk factors, access, prevention, screening, treatment, and survivorship
  
• Demographic (e.g., age, gender, geographic location), socioeconomic, and cultural factors in cancer prevention, control, treatment access and quality, and survivorship (e.g., cultural barriers related to cancer screening and treatment)
  
• Economic evaluation of cancer prevention and cancer care
  
• Innovative social media, Web 2.0, and other new technological interventions to promote cancer prevention, screening, treatment, or survivorship
  
• Innovative strategies to increase recruitment of minority and medically underserved populations to cancer prevention, screening, and treatment clinical trials
  
• Patient navigation, peer navigation, and/or healthcare delivery changes/models to improve delivery of and/or promote best practices in cancer screening, treatment, and survivorship services
  
• The interconnectedness of poverty and cancer among women and other vulnerable populations (e.g., LGBT, low-SES, medically ill, underserved groups)
  

Abstracts are limited to 250 words or less. They will be evaluated based on their conceptual and methodological quality, innovation and novelty, and relevance. Abstracts are required to include quantitative or qualitative data. Preliminary data are acceptable. Referral to web pages or URLs may not be used for abstracts. An author may not submit the same abstract to more than one Section, SPIG, Caucus or Forum. For any and all inquiries about your abstract, always refer to the abstract number assigned to you by the online system. Oral presentations at contributed sessions are generally 13-15 minutes in length. An additional 3-5 minutes will be available for discussion and questions from the audience.

Presenters at poster sessions should display their work and be available to answer questions throughout the scheduled 60 minute poster session. Preferences for oral versus poster presentation will be considered, but the program committee will consider all abstracts for both oral and poster categories. If you are interested in submitting a panel/symposium for consideration as part of the 2015 APHA Cancer Forum program, please contact the Program Planners (erika_bloom@brown.edu and Yasmin_Asvat@rush.edu) for additional instructions.

Continuing Education Credit

APHA values the ability to provide continuing education credit to physicians, nurses, health educators, and those certified in public health at its annual meeting. Please complete all required information when submitting an abstract so members can claim credit for attending your session. These credits are necessary for members to keep their licenses and credentials. For a session to be eligible for Continuing Education Credit, each presenter, panelist, discussant, and/or faculty must provide:

1) an abstract free of trade and/or commercial product names.

2) at least one MEASURABLE SINGLE objective (“to understand” or “to learn” are not measurable objectives and compound objectives are not acceptable). Use ONLY the following Measurable Action Verbs: Explain, Demonstrate, Analyze, Formulate, Discuss, Compare, Differentiate, Describe, Name, Assess, Evaluate, Identify, Design, Define or List.

3) A signed Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form with a relevant qualification statement;

Example of Acceptable Biographical Qualification Statement: (I have been the principal or co-principal of multiple federally funded grants focusing on the epidemiology of drug abuse, HIV prevention and co-occurring mental and drug use disorders. Among my scientific interests has been the development of strategies for preventing HIV and STDs in out-of-treatment drug users.)

Please note that stating “I am a Principal Investigator/Project Coordinator of this project.” is not sufficient since it only gives submitter's job title or position. Please add little more information about your experience and/or background.

4) All continuing education learning content must be of sound science or professional practice and serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills and professional competence of the health professional. Learning content should be evidence-based if available. A list of over 30 areas will be provided online for you to choose from. You will be asked to choose at least one or up to 6 areas that your presentation will address.

Thank you for your assistance in making your session credit worthy. Contact Annette Ferebee at annette.ferebee@apha.org if you have any questions concerning continuing education.

Program Planner Contact Information:

Erika L. Bloom, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Research)
Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-444-8679 (after 1/6/15 - contact Yasmin Asvat prior to 1/6/15)
Email: erika_bloom@brown.edu

and

Yasmin Asvat, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Fellow in Psychosocial Oncology
Department of Behavioral Sciences
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: 312-563-2137
Email: Yasmin_Asvat@rush.edu

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Ready?

Program Planner Contact Information:

Erika Bloom, Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-444-8679
erika_bloom@brown.edu

and
Yasmin Asvat
Department of Behavioral Sciences
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: 312-563-2137
Yasmin_Asvat@rush.edu