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Minority
Junior Scientist Mentorship Program
To
increase the number of minorities pursuing careers in cancer research,
and to stimulate additional research in cancer-related issues pertinent
to immigrant minority populations, CANIMP initiated the Minority Junior
Scientist Mentorship Program (MJSMP). Through intensive and coordinated
senior faculty mentoring, MJSMP facilitated the development and implementation
of pilot projects by minority junior researchers. The MJSMP is open
to researchers who have completed a masters level degree (such as an
MPH or MSW) or have completed, or are about to complete, an MD, PhD,
DrPH, or ScD. CANIMP staff and research partners guided minority investigators
throughout all stages of the research development and implementation,
including developing collaborations with community sites, designing
research instruments, data gathering and analyzing, report writing,
and manuscript preparation. Junior researchers participated in a number
of learning venues, including the NYU Cancer Institute seminar series,
monthly Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Seminars, bi-monthly Cancer
Epidemiology Journal Club, and the monthly Biostatistics Journal Club.
Such seminars and journal clubs provided a forum for MJSMP investigators
to present and discuss research ideas and study results, focus on methodological
issues of common interest, exchange information, and partake in training
opportunities.
Pilot
Projects Awarded Funding
Caribbean
Cancer Awareness Resources Education and Services (CARES)
The Caribbean Cancer Awareness Resources Education and Services (CARES)
pilot researched the development of effective, culturally sensitive
cancer information Web sites for English-speaking Caribbean immigrant
women, and explored strategies to improve the penetration and effectiveness
of cancer communication, based on how immigrants search for, and use,
cancer information on the Internet.
Mexican
Immigrant Males’ Attitudes Towards Breast and Cervical Cancer
Screening Behaviors of their Female Partners: Implications for Cancer
Prevention Education
The
Mexican Immigrant Males’ Attitudes Toward Breast and Cervical
Cancer Screening Behaviors of their Female Partners: Implications for
Cancer Prevention Education pilot examined how Mexican immigrant men’s
own health-seeking behaviors and their attitudes towards, and support
for, breast and cervical cancer screening impacted their female partner’s
cancer screening behaviors. Mexican immigrant women’s health-seeking
behaviors were significantly influenced by male partners. Couples welcomed
male partner education to facilitate screening.
Determinants
of Physician Referrals of First-Generation Immigrants to Cancer Screening
and Clinical Trials
The Determinants Which Influence the Participation of Chinese in Cancer
Screening Clinical Trials pilot developed and evaluated in a quasi-experimental
design the effectiveness of a community-based intervention to address
these factors and improve Chinese immigrant recruitment in to clinical
trials: a Clinical Trails Enrollment Facilitation Program (CTEFP).
An Evaluation and Continuation
of a Gastric Cancer Screening Effort in Chinese Immigrants in New York
City
The Repeat Endoscopy in Patients from East Asia Trial (REPEAT): An Evaluation
and Continuation of a Gastric Cancer Screening Effort in Chinese Immigrants
in New York City pilot examined the feasibility of a large-scale population-based
study on gastric cancer prevention in Chinese immigrant populations.
It built on a recent community center-based research trial that screened
over 120 Chinese immigrants for gastric cancer. Researchers gathered
epidemiological and clinical information about each participant from
the previous trial, performed endoscopy (EGD) with biopsy, and made
recommendations for therapy, further work-up, and follow-up based on
the findings.
Determinants
Which Influence the Participation of Immigrant Chinese in Cancer Screening
Clinical Trials
The Factors Predicting Physician Referral of Cancer Screening and Participation
in Clinical Trials for Chinese and Haitian Immigrants pilot examined
physician barriers to referring Chinese and Haitian immigrants for cancer
screening and treatment, and participation into clinical trials. A multi-theoretical
framework was used to develop and analyze a survey that examined the
determinants of physician referral for Chinese and Haitian immigrants
in to cancer screening, treatment and clinical trials. Providers’
willingness and readiness to modify practice behaviors and the capacity
for change to occur was evaluated.
Smokeless
Tobacco, Oral Pathology Prevention And Awareness Network (STOP PAAN)
The Smokeless Tobacco, Oral Pathology Prevention And Awareness Network
(STOP PAAN) pilot explored gutka and paan (smokeless tobacco and areca
nut) consumption in South Asian immigrants in New York. A questionnaire
was developed to: explore the social, economic, and cultural context
of gutka and paan consumption in the South Asian communities in NYC;
explore knowledge about health consequences and risk of oral cancer
posed by use of gutka and paan; and determine attitudes towards, and
barriers to, use of dental services, which would contribute to the detection
of oral cancer cases. Patterns of use indicate variation between different
South Asian communities, with certain groups’ exposure risk continuing
several years after migration.
Screening
for Colorectal Cancer and Prevention in Ethnic Minorities (SCCOPEM):
The Haitian Immigrant Community
The Screening for Colorectal Cancer and Prevention in
Ethnic Minorities (SCCOPEM): The Haitian Immigrant Community pilot explored
Haitian knowledge about colorectal cancer, including its risk factors
and prevention; awareness of colorectal screening recommendations; and
attitudes towards, and willingness to use, various colorectal cancer
screening modalities. SCCOPEM is using a combination of focus group
and survey methodology. The determination of Haitian community-specific
colorectal cancer prevention barriers and strategies will facilitate
the development and implementation of Haitian community-based colorectal
cancer screening programs and large-scale screening studies.
Understanding
Colorectal Cancer Services Underutilization: Chinese American Pilot
Study
This study is elucidating the factors that affect utilization
of colorectal cancer screening and treatment services in the Chinese
American community. Specifically, the study is examining the use of
Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), and colonoscopy and treatment follow-up.
Addressing
Language Barriers to Colonoscopy Screening: CLEAN
This study is a prospective observational cohort study to examine the
role of trained interpreters in adherence to cancer screening recommendations
and study the impact of trained interpreting services on a) ability
to detect colorectal adenomas and malignant neoplasms in LEP patients,
and b) patients’ understanding of cancer diagnosis.
Minority Internship Program
To stimulate undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students’
interest in working to address cancer disparities in immigrant communities,
a 10-week supervised cancer-related public health Minority Internship
Program (MIP) was developed. Interns were recruited through citywide
colleges, and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s
Health Research and Training Program (HRTP). Each year, the HRTP recruits
and places more than 100 students in health-related institutions in
the city, including hospitals, medical schools and non-profit organizations.
Project topics cover the entire range of public health issues, including:
health policy, planning, and administration, and education. In 2004,
more than 10 summer MIP interns were recruited through the HRTP. Course
credit can be arranged through the student’s school. MIP Interns
participate in a number of educational seminars and conferences. MIP
participants gain cancer education, communication, and research experience
during their internships.
Community-Oriented Research Education
Three years
into the program, CANIMP’s CBO partners articulated the desire
to develop and implement a community-based research methods curriculum.
In response, CANIMP co-developed and piloted CORE with its CBO partners.
In 10 two-hour sessions, CORE imparted instruction on research methods,
developing research initiatives, securing grant funding, and implementing
research projects.
Virtual Support Community for Immigrants with Cancer
(www.cavic.org)
The
Internet has proven itself as a venue to enable non-immigrant patients
to help one another through the emotional turmoil of being diagnosed
with disease, and to provide information from all vantage points. A
virtual community is one of the most powerful uses of the Internet.
People can meet, interact, share interests, and exchange social support
via Online Support Groups (OSG). An increasing number of immigrant and
minority households are going online. However, in the myriad of virtual
communities that provide support to a growing number of cancer patients,
not a single virtual community targets immigrants with cancer.
The
Virtual Support Community for Immigrants with Cancer (CAVIC in Spanish)
initiative was developed to advance immigrants’ ability to cope
with cancer and increase their confidence in accessing treatment options.
Supported by the Langeloth Foundation, CAVIC provides specific informational,
emotional, and social network support to immigrants with cancer, through
an OSG, the first Spanish-language OSGs for Latino women with breast
cancer in the U.S.
Weekly chat sessions are held for a 30-week period. Sessions are 90
minutes in duration, and are conducted by trained facilitators who are
trained in OSGs and face-to-face groups (through The Wellness Community,
LatinaSHARE, and Cancer Care). In addition, once a month, a variety
of cancer “experts” participate in the OSG to address any
participant issues, questions, doubts, of the Latina OSG members. The
support groups will allow CAVIC to evaluate the feasibility, acceptance,
and effectiveness of OSGs within immigrant communities.
We
believe that CAVIC will improve immigrants’ attitudes and beliefs
about their illness, improve their quality of life, and decrease levels
of depression and feelings of isolation. Furthermore, by learning to
access the Internet, participants will have access to an online community
that will provide benefits long after the study is completed. CAVIC
is currently enrolling participants for the study. The eligibility criteria
include the following: (1) must be a Spanish-speaking woman with breast
cancer; (2) must have been diagnosed within the past 24 months; (3)
and cannot have participated in another other cancer support group.
If you would like to participate in the study or are interested in more
information about CAVIC, please contact Lauren Vose at (212) 263-3764
or at the following email address lauren.vose@med.nyu.edu.
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