Despite evidence that early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) effectively prevents premature deaths, racial disparities in CRC persist and the gap is widening, especially among African Americans. Underutilization of cancer screening services often results in late stage diagnosis and higher mortality rates. Behavioral interventions to increase CRC screening have produced mixed results;therefore, a better understanding of factors that contribute to cancer health disparities is warranted. A review of the literature reveals four promising psychosocial/cultural factors: trust, social support, risk perception, and religiousness that have high potential to inform intervention research design. Additionally, as shown by empirical evidence, the behaviors of individuals and their social and physical environments are mutually influential. Since the study population resides in urban neighborhoods, characterized by poverty and racial residential segregation, a better understanding of neighborhood level factors contributing to cancer health disparities also is necessary. The literature shows interventions that take into account the environment of the individual are more likely to be successful. The proposed research will use a socio-ecologic framework to examine and understand both individual- and neighborhood-level factors associated with CRC screening. The proposed research has three specific aims:1) Investigate the associations among individual-level factors (e.g., psychosocial/cultural constructs, sociodemographics) and their relationship with CRC screening;2) Characterize the associations among neighborhood-level factors (e.g., socioeconomic index, residential poverty, education, income) and their relationship with CRC screening;and 3) Explore the associations of individual-level factors, including perceptions of neighborhoods, and neighborhood-level factors with CRC screening using multi-level modeling. My ultimate aim is to build a research career focused on understanding the combined effects of individual and neighborhood level factors that may contribute to the development of scientifically sound and culturally relevant community-based interventions to increase CRC screening among African Americans.

Public Health Relevance

NIH encourages research that promotes an understanding of the factors contributing to cancer health disparities. My proposed research will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the relationships among individual and neighborhood level factors that may explain CRC health disparities;thus, improving community-based interventions designed to increase CRC screening among African Americans.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
7K01CA140358-02
Application #
8181855
Study Section
Subcommittee G - Education (NCI)
Program Officer
Ojeifo, John O
Project Start
2010-08-11
Project End
2013-07-31
Budget Start
2011-04-14
Budget End
2011-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$130,631
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Maryland College Park
Department
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
790934285
City
College Park
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
20742
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Garza, Mary A; Quinn, Sandra Crouse; Li, Yan et al. (2017) The Influence of Race and Ethnicity on Becoming a Human Subject: Factors Associated with Participation in Research. Contemp Clin Trials Commun 7:57-63
Fryer, Craig S; Passmore, Susan R; Maietta, Raymond C et al. (2016) The Symbolic Value and Limitations of Racial Concordance in Minority Research Engagement. Qual Health Res 26:830-41
Passmore, Susan R; Fryer, Craig S; Butler 3rd, James et al. (2016) Building a ""Deep Fund of Good Will"": Reframing Research Engagement. J Health Care Poor Underserved 27:722-40
King, Christopher J; Chen, Jie; Dagher, Rada K et al. (2015) Decomposing differences in medical care access among cancer survivors by race and ethnicity. Am J Med Qual 30:459-69
Hararah, Mohammad Khalid; Pollack, Craig Evan; Garza, Mary A et al. (2015) The Relationship Between Education and Prostate-Specific Antigen Testing Among Urban African American Medicare Beneficiaries. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2:176-83
Horne, Hisani N; Phelan-Emrick, Darcy F; Pollack, Craig E et al. (2015) Effect of patient navigation on colorectal cancer screening in a community-based randomized controlled trial of urban African American adults. Cancer Causes Control 26:239-246

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