African Americans suffer a disproportionate burden of incidence and mortality from breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer. Though the causes of these cancer disparities are likely multi-factorial in nature, there are no doubt disparities in early detection that contribute to the mortality disparities. Community-based approaches have been increasing in the effort to raise awareness and early detection for these cancers. However, more often than not, such interventions are tested in randomized controlled trials, become evidence- based, and then fail to reach further implementation in the community.
The aim of the proposed project is to identify an optimal implementation strategy using a set of evidence-based interventions that aim to increase early detection of breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer among African Americans as a model. These three interventions will be packaged and interwoven into a single """"""""Cancer Early Detection Ministry"""""""" (CEDM), which will be delivered through trained Community Health Advisors in church settings. The implementation and sustainability will be evaluated using the RE-AIM Framework. Fourteen local African American churches will be randomized to a high or a low community autonomy implementation strategy, in which the level of technical assistance is varied (monitoring and evaluation only vs. monitoring/evaluation plus technical assistance and training, respectively). By varying the level of technical assistance, we will be able to determine what level of technical assistance leads to successful implementation and sustainability. We will also identify church organizational capacity characteristics that lead to successful implementation and sustainability.
The specific aims of this research are to: (1) Package the three interventions into a single Cancer Early Detection Ministry (CEDM), develop a local cancer screening resource guide, and pilot test the materials and training. (2) Implement the CEDM in 14 churches in Prince George's County, Maryland. We will evaluate the implementation outcomes involving treatment fidelity and identify church organizational capacity characteristics that led to successful implementation. We will compare the two implementation strategies (high vs. low community autonomy) to determine the optimal level of technical assistance necessary for successful implementation. (3) Evaluate the sustainability of the CEDM over a two-year period of time. We will identify church organizational capacity characteristics that led to sustainability, and compare the two implementation strategies (high vs. low community autonomy) to determine the optimal level of technical assistance for successful sustainability.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed project would begin to provide some answers to inform the emerging but critical field of dissemination/implementation research. If more can be learned about ways to effectively disseminate/implement and sustain cancer community-based communication interventions, cancer control research can have significantly greater impact on cancer disparities. In this time of uncertain resources, an effective implementation strategy will be a significant step toward the elimination of disparities in cancer early detection, which would have a significant impact on mortality in African American communities.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01CA147313-03S1
Application #
8704596
Study Section
Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health Study Section (DIRH)
Program Officer
Ogunbiyi, Peter
Project Start
2011-03-18
Project End
2017-02-28
Budget Start
2013-07-01
Budget End
2014-02-28
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$98,950
Indirect Cost
$33,851
Name
University of Maryland College Park
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
790934285
City
College Park
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
20742
Williams, Randi M; Wilkerson, Thomas; Holt, Cheryl L (2018) The role of perceived benefits and barriers in colorectal cancer screening in intervention trials among African Americans. Health Educ Res 33:205-217
Slade, Jimmie L; Holt, Cheryl L; Bowie, Janice et al. (2018) Recruitment of African American Churches to Participate in Cancer Early Detection Interventions: A Community Perspective. J Relig Health 57:751-761
Williams, Randi M; Tagai, Erin K; Santos, Sherie Lou Zara et al. (2018) The Role of Leadership Support in a Church-Based Cancer Education Implementation Study. J Relig Health 57:146-156
Tagai, Erin Kelly; Scheirer, Mary Ann; Santos, Sherie Lou Z et al. (2018) Assessing Capacity of Faith-Based Organizations for Health Promotion Activities. Health Promot Pract 19:714-723
Holt, Cheryl L; Shelton, Rachel C; Allen, Jennifer D et al. (2018) Development of tailored feedback reports on organizational capacity for health promotion in African American churches. Eval Program Plann 70:99-106
Santos, Sherie Lou Zara; Tagai, Erin K; Scheirer, Mary Ann et al. (2017) Adoption, reach, and implementation of a cancer education intervention in African American churches. Implement Sci 12:36
Scheirer, Mary Ann; Santos, Sherie Lou Z; Tagai, Erin K et al. (2017) Dimensions of sustainability for a health communication intervention in African American churches: a multi-methods study. Implement Sci 12:43
Santos, Sherie Lou Z; Tagai, Erin K; Wang, Min Qi et al. (2014) Feasibility of a web-based training system for peer community health advisors in cancer early detection among african americans. Am J Public Health 104:2282-9
Holt, Cheryl L; Tagai, Erin K; Scheirer, Mary Ann et al. (2014) Translating evidence-based interventions for implementation: Experiences from Project HEAL in African American churches. Implement Sci 9:66