title: Addressing cancer health disparities using a global biopsychosocial approach.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Denae
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gor
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fuchs-Young
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chilton
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hajek
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Torres-Vigil
authors.forename: Mariá A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hernández-Valero
authors.forename: S Amy
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Snipes
authors.forename: Lovell
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: 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