African Americans continue to suffer disproportionately from cancer. The cancer mortality rate for thispopulation remains 33% higher than for Caucasians and twice as high as the rates for all other U.S. minoritypopulations. The occurrence of cancer increases with age, with the majority of cancer cases occuring inpersons 55 years and older, compounding the cancer burden experienced by the individual who is older andAfrican American. In this study, we propose to evaluate a questionnaire designed to measure copingstrategies used by older African American cancer survivors. The Ways of Helping Questionnaire (WHO) wasdeveloped from in-depth interviews with older African American cancer survivors and captures unique copingstrategies used by this population to manage their cancer experience. Content validity has been determinedby cancer survivors, researchers, and clinicians with expertise in coping, oncology, and caregiving. Pilottesting of the WHO with a sample of 88 older African American cancer survivors has provided adequatereliability and construct validity evaluations. Thus, in this study, we propose a more extensive analysis of thepsychometric properties of the WHQ. In addition, we propose to test the theoretical validity of the WHQwithin the Stress and Coping Theoretical Framework. Three hundred and fifty older African American cancersurvivors will be recruited from outpatient oncology clinics to conduct tests of reliability (test-retest, internalconsistency) and validity (factor analsis, hypothesized associations). Data from our preliminary studies andthat of others suggest that older African American cancer survivors cope primarily through religiosity andspirituality, and use other coping strategies characterized by giving and receiving help, coping strategies notemphasized in existing coping measures. The long-term goal of this study is to develop a culturally sensitivemeasure of coping that drives intervention studies; addressing the need for interventions that promoteoptimal coping and positive health outcomes among this medically underserved population.
| Hamilton, Jill B; Agarwal, Mansi; Carter, J Kameron et al. (2011) Coping profiles common to older African American cancer survivors: relationships with quality of life. J Pain Symptom Manage 41:79-92 |
| Agarwal, Mansi; Hamilton, Jill B; Crandell, Jamie L et al. (2010) Coping strategies of African American head and neck cancer survivors. J Psychosoc Oncol 28:526-38 |
| Agarwal, Mansi; Hamilton, Jill B; Moore, Charles E et al. (2010) Predictors of depression among older African American cancer patients. Cancer Nurs 33:156-63 |
| Hamilton, Jill B; Crandell, Jamie L; Carter, J Kameron et al. (2010) Reliability and validity of the perspectives of Support From God Scale. Nurs Res 59:102-9 |
| Hamilton, Jill B; Stewart, Barbara J; Crandell, Jamie L et al. (2009) Development of the Ways Of Helping Questionnaire: a measure of preferred coping strategies for older African American cancer survivors. Res Nurs Health 32:243-59 |
