Abstract A15: Challenges and successes in delivering a cancer survivorship support program among rural Latinas

Introduction: Rates of cancer survivorship are increasing for most cancers. However, Latina cancer survivors tend to experience lower quality of life and higher levels of distress following cancer compared to non-Latina Whites (NLW). While social support resources can alleviate the negative psychosocial impact of cancer sequelae, there are often limited resource availability and uptake among Latina cancer survivors.

Objective: This presentation will include descriptions of the qualitative and quantitative study design, recruitment strategies, cultural adaptations of the intervention, challenges, and successes in data collection and intervention delivery.

Methods: This study included a qualitative needs assessment of Latina survivors of breast and gynecologic cancers living in a rural region of Washington State, development of a 10-week Spanish-language survivor-support program, and a randomized control trial (RCT) whose effectiveness was evaluated with psychosocial and biologic outcomes. Intervention delivery and qualitative and quantitative data collection were conducted by promotores (lay health workers).

Conclusion: Challenges and successes of conducting the qualitative assessment, delivering the intervention, and data collection will be discussed. Future studies can build on the methodologic insight gained from this project.

Citation Format: Rachel M. Ceballos. Challenges and successes in delivering a cancer survivorship support program among rural Latinas [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr A15.