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Engaging an Urban African American Community to Deliver Cognitive Health Education to Breast Cancer Survivors

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Abstract

Little is known about cognitive changes among African American (AA) breast cancer survivors (BCS). Here, we report our experience with engagement of leaders of urban AA churches in Birmingham, Alabama to deliver and evaluate Think Well: Healthy Living to Improve Cognitive Function, an educational cognitive health program for BCS. The Think Well team engaged leaders of urban AA churches using a 7-step process: 1) identify leaders, 2) develop connection with leaders, 3) assess AA community preferences, 4) tailor for cultural relevance, 5) plan seminars, 6) deliver seminars, and 7) evaluate cultural relevance and overall program quality. Program evaluation was via a 22-item survey and sociodemographic questionnaire. Data from AA participants were analyzed using SPSS. The engagement process resulted in sustained partnerships with three urban AA churches and delivery of three Think Well seminars to 172 participants. Of the 172 participants, 138 (80%) AA participants (40 BCS, 98 co-survivors) returned the program survey. Respondents reported Think Well to be culturally relevant (90%) and of high quality (94%). Think Well was developed and evaluated with the collaboration of urban AA church leaders. Engaging church leaders facilitated reach of AA BCS. Partnership facilitated a culturally relevant, high quality program for AA BCS and co-survivors.

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Acknowledgements

Think Well is supported by funding from Susan G. Komen, North Central Alabama Affiliate. Authors are supported by additional funding from the American Cancer Society Doctoral Degree Scholarship in Cancer Nursing (DSCN-15-073-01, DSCN-16-066-01) (TN, JB), Susan G. Komen Graduate Traineeship in Disparities Research Award (TN, JB, JV), Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholarship (TN), Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholarship (JV), and Gladys Farmer Colvin Doctoral Fellowship (TN, JB).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MT 504,1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1210, USA

    Jennifer Bail, Timiya S. Nolan & Jacqueline B. Vo

  2. University of Alabama at Birmingham, MT 504G,1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1210, USA

    Silvia Gisiger-Camata

  3. School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MT 502H1,1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1210, USA

    Karen Meneses

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  1. Jennifer Bail
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  2. Timiya S. Nolan
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  3. Jacqueline B. Vo
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  4. Silvia Gisiger-Camata
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  5. Karen Meneses
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Correspondence to Jennifer Bail.

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Bail, J., Nolan, T.S., Vo, J.B. et al. Engaging an Urban African American Community to Deliver Cognitive Health Education to Breast Cancer Survivors. J Canc Educ 33, 870–874 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-016-1155-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-016-1155-6

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