Abstract A32: Using CBPR to engage the African American and black Jamaican community in prostate cancer disparity research

Introduction: Little is known about how the cultural and ethnic profiles of U.S.-born and Jamaican-born black men living in the south impact their health attitudes and behaviors in regard to prostate cancer and prostate cancer screening.

Objectives: Identify factors that enhance prostate cancer education and screening in targeted populations.

Methods: The authors conducted a community-based participatory research (CBPR) study comprised of one-hour individual-guided interviews with a sample of men representing two black ethnic subgroup: U.S.-born and Jamaican-born black men living in the metropolitan Atlanta area. Demographic and health attitudes surveys were administered to all participants prior to the interviews. Participants were asked to talk openly about their sense of self, their ethnicity and culture, and their health-related attitudes.

Results: We developed and utilized community partnerships through CBPR methods to: (1) engage the African American and Jamaican communities, (2) get buy-in for the study, (3) create distinct cultural definitions of African American and Jamaican ethnicity, (4) inform questionnaires and interview guides, (5) provide cultural and cognitive feedback on study findings, and (6) create a forum to communicate study results back to the African American and black Jamaican communities in the metropolitan Atlanta area.

Implications: CBPR is an effective research method to engage the African American and black Jamaican community in prostate cancer research aimed at reducing and eventually eliminating the glaring and persistent disparities in prostate cancer among blacks and other ethnic groups.

Next Steps: Develop culturally-appropriate and effective prostate cancer education and screening programs targeting African American and Jamaican black men.