A community-based approach to translational research addressing breast cancer disparities.
Disparities in breast cancer survival rates suggest that biological processes contribute. Translational research addressing health disparities would benefit from using a community-based participatory approach (CBPR) to examine biological processes commonly seen as the proximal causes of illness as well as behavioral and social-ecological "causes of the causes" within an integrated conceptual framework. This paper describes a CBPR study that explored perceptions regarding breast cancer relevant behaviors, and the application of the study's results to develop translational research. Data from eight focus groups of African American (n = 29) and Caucasian women (n = 27) were analyzed, using the framework of the social-ecological model. Nutrition and physical activity were valued over screening and research participation. Treatment of illness was emphasized over prevention. Women's perspectives are presented within a framework that facilitated the collaborative development of translational research to examine associations among biological, behavioral, and societal processes contributing to disparities.
Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street #820, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199 USA.
Karen Hye-Cheon Kim
KH
Yeary
Mondi
M
Mason
Jerome
J
Turner
Thomas
T
Kieber-Emmons
Marie
M
Chow
R Jean
RJ
Hine
Ronda
R
Henry-Tillman
Paul
P
Greene
Breast cancer; Community-based participatory research; Health disparities; Translational research