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Development of a Question Prompt List as a Communication Intervention to Reduce Racial Disparities in Cancer Treatment

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Abstract

Racial disparities have been found in the use of chemotherapy as cancer treatment. These disparities may be, in part, due to well-documented differences in the quality of communication during clinical interactions with oncologists and Black versus White patients. In this study using a community-based participatory research approach, academic researchers, community members, and oncologists formed a partnership to develop a communication intervention to address racial disparities in cancer care. Partners developed a question prompt list (QPL), a simple tool that can be used to improve communication, and thus treatment, during clinical interactions in which oncologists and Black patients discuss chemotherapy. Partners endorsed the use of a QPL, provided specific suggestions for content and format, conducted and analyzed qualitative interviews with Black patients receiving chemotherapy, and approved the final version. The feasibility and effectiveness of the QPL that resulted from this research process are currently under evaluation in a separate study

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the collaboration of Betty Brooks, Josephine Ford Cancer Center; Myron Frasier, community volunteer; Voncile Brown-Miller, breast cancer advocate, faith-based health leader for the State of Michigan; Mary Malloy, Michigan Society of Hematology & Oncology; Margaret Thorpe Williamson, Executive Director/CEO, Pro-Literacy Detroit; and Cassandra Woods, Sisters Network-Greater Metropolitan Detroit Chapter. We also gratefully acknowledge Michael Simon, MD, MPH; Anthony Shields, MD, PhD; Shirish Gadgeel, MD; Haythem Ali, MD; Randa Loutfi, MD; and Ira Wollner, MD. This research was funded by National Cancer Institute awards: NCI U54 CA 153606 and P30CA22453.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, MM03CB, Detroit, 48201, MI, USA

    Susan Eggly, Rifky Tkatch, Louis A. Penner, Lorna Mabunda, Janella Hudson & Terrance Albrecht

  2. Josephine Ford Cancer Center, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, USA

    Robert Chapman

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

    Jennifer J. Griggs

  4. Department of Social and Behavioral Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA

    Richard Brown

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  1. Susan Eggly
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  2. Rifky Tkatch
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  3. Louis A. Penner
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  4. Lorna Mabunda
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  5. Janella Hudson
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  6. Robert Chapman
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  7. Jennifer J. Griggs
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  8. Richard Brown
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  9. Terrance Albrecht
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Correspondence to Susan Eggly.

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Eggly, S., Tkatch, R., Penner, L.A. et al. Development of a Question Prompt List as a Communication Intervention to Reduce Racial Disparities in Cancer Treatment. J Canc Educ 28, 282–289 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-013-0456-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-013-0456-2

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