Ramirez-Rivera, Caleb O.

Introduction Immigrants of African Descent (IAD) are a subset of the population in the United States with unique healthcare needs and experiences driving health disparities, including inadequate access to healthcare for cancer prevention and control. This study reports the impact of a Cancer advocacy program in IAD communities, using the training of trainers approach. Methods IAD from different organizations were invited to undergo cancer advocacy training organized by Inclusive Cancer Care Research Equity and Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center as Master trainers on colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers. Participation was through in-person training and Zoom sessions. Our team communicated with participants frequently via email to provide support and updates. The Master trainers led cancer awareness programs within their communities during the second phase of the program. Results Participants included two breast cancer survivors, three prostate cancer survivors, six cancer caregivers, and 19 community advocates. There were 19 advocate-led cancer risk reduction and research participation events, reaching 2045 community members, and 875 were navigated to research. Community responses showed that 96% found the information given at the Master Trainer-led event was very useful, 46% promised to seek more cancer information, and 17% agreed to volunteer to become a cancer advocate. The insights from this study suggested that the train-the-trainers’ approach was efficient in ensuring community ownership of cancer advocacy. Conclusion IAD can be trained to effectively lead advocacy programs in immigrant communities, using the train-the-trainer approach. Future studies should establish the feasibility of sustaining community outreach and research navigation in IAD communities to improve cancer prevention and cancer care outcomes in this population.

Objectives Communication barriers, such as channels, comfort, and location, can negatively impact Black prostate cancer survivors’ experiences and health outcomes after treatment. Addressing these barriers promotes a survivor-centric approach that views survivors as active partners in their care. This study explored the communication preferences of Black prostate cancer survivors, focusing on preferred channels, sources, and locations for enhanced quality of life. Design Using grounded theory methodology, we conducted engaged in-depth interviews with 7 Black prostate cancer survivors, centering on their post-treatment experiences. We analyzed participant transcripts to develop codes and themes. Communication accommodation theory (CAT) was applied to examine how survivors adapt their communication styles to navigate barriers and improve their quality of life. CAT helped identify key patterns of survivors’ convergence and divergence in their communication with healthcare providers, crucial for developing survivor-centric communication strategies. Results The analysis revealed the importance of acknowledging cultural and racial perspectives in post-treatment survivorship. Themes extracted from the transcripts included communication barriers, preferences for information channels, and favored locations for sharing information. Survivors expressed a preference for a balance between face-to-face interaction and telehealth, with environments that provide safety and support playing a key role in encouraging vulnerability and open dialogue. Inclusive healthcare practices were seen as essential in empowering Black survivors to engage in meaningful communication without feeling silenced or undervalued, thus fostering a dignified quality of life. Conclusion Tailoring post-treatment communication practices to incorporate cultural sensitivity, inclusive healthcare, and safe spaces is pivotal to supporting Black survivors. These findings provide a pathway to improving survivors’ experiences and empower them to actively shape their survivorship journey. Moreover, they highlight Black men’s need for trustworthy communication with healthcare providers and peers during the post-treatment period, emphasizing the importance of direct, personalized interactions.