title: Engaging an Urban African American Community to Deliver Cognitive Health Education to Breast Cancer Survivors.
abstract: Little is known about cognitive changes among African American (AA) breast cancer survivors (BCS). Here, we report our experience with engagement of leaders of urban AA churches in Birmingham, Alabama to deliver and evaluate Think Well: Healthy Living to Improve Cognitive Function, an educational cognitive health program for BCS. The Think Well team engaged leaders of urban AA churches using a 7-step process: 1) identify leaders, 2) develop connection with leaders, 3) assess AA community preferences, 4) tailor for cultural relevance, 5) plan seminars, 6) deliver seminars, and 7) evaluate cultural relevance and overall program quality. Program evaluation was via a 22-item survey and sociodemographic questionnaire. Data from AA participants were analyzed using SPSS. The engagement process resulted in sustained partnerships with three urban AA churches and delivery of three Think Well seminars to 172 participants. Of the 172 participants, 138 (80%) AA participants (40 BCS, 98 co-survivors) returned the program survey. Respondents reported Think Well to be culturally relevant (90%) and of high quality (94%). Think Well was developed and evaluated with the collaboration of urban AA church leaders. Engaging church leaders facilitated reach of AA BCS. Partnership facilitated a culturally relevant, high quality program for AA BCS and co-survivors.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MT 504,1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1210, USA. jbail@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7613-9648
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bail
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MT 504,1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1210, USA.
authors.forename: Timiya S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MT 504,1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1210, USA.
authors.forename: Jacqueline B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Vo
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, MT 504G,1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1210, USA.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gisiger-Camata
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MT 502H1,1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1210, USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meneses
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D000073116:Cancer Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: African American commuity; Breast cancer survivors; Cognitive health; Engagement