Addressing cancer health disparities using a global biopsychosocial approach.
The Center for Research on Minority Health has translated the biopsychosocial framework to address global cancer health disparities through the integration of biological (eg, endogenous steroids, genetic susceptibility, and pesticide levels) and behavioral (eg, dietary interventions) determinants, along with community-based research (eg, comprehensive involvement of community advisory boards) and educational approaches (eg, kindergarten through postgraduate training). Evidence of successful implementation of this framework includes health disparities training for >2000 individuals ranging from elementary to the postgraduate level, and conducting transdisciplinary projects that incorporate traditional and nontraditional health professionals to examine associations between biological and nonbiological determinants of health. Examples and recommendations for implementation of the biopsychosocial approach as it applies to cancer health disparities research are described.
King
Denae
D
Department of Health Disparities Research, Center for Research on Minority Health, PO Box 301402, Unit 639, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77230-1402, USA. dking@mdanderson.org
Miranda
Patricia
P
Gor
Beverly
B
Fuchs-Young
Robin
R
Chilton
Janice
J
Hajek
Richard
R
Torres-Vigil
Isabel
I
Hernández-Valero
Mariá A
MA
Snipes
S Amy
SA
Jones
Lovell
L
D035843:Biomedical Research; D003256:Community Participation; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006078:Government Programs; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007391:International Cooperation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011584:Psychology; D012107:Research Design; D012961:Sociology