Improving Communication and Adherence in Black Breast Cancer Survivors
Summary
The purpose of this study is to test an evidence-based intervention designed to increase adherence to systemic therapy in Black women compared to enhanced usual care.
Detailed description
Black women continue to experience worse breast cancer outcomes, which may be due to inadequate adherence to systemic therapies that can be improved via patient-centered communication. We developed and piloted the Sisters Informing SistersSM (SIS) intervention (survivor-led skill-building sessions and culturally tailored materials to activate Black breast cancer survivors in their medical encounters) and obtained promising findings. This project will compare in a two-arm RCT the impact of SIS vs. enhanced usual care (treatment recommendation summary form) on patient-centered communication and systemic treatment adherence; SIS tools may be integrated within existing clinical and support services.
Arms & interventions
- BehavioralSIS TALK Back Intervention
The participants in this arm will be seen by a trained survivor coach and receive culturally tailored intervention materials.
Outcome measures
Primary
Assessing Study Adherence Behaviors- Initiation
Initiation will be measured for all therapies based on the number of participants starting at least one cycle of prescribed therapy
Time frame: 36 Months
Assessing Study Adherence Behaviors- Delay of Adjuvant or Endocrine Therapy.
Initiation Delay of therapy will be measured by the number of participant's days from definitive surgery date to the date of her first cycle of adjuvant systemic therapy. Classifications of delay are dichotomized according to published reports (\<60 days primary measure).
Time frame: 36 Months
Assessing Study Adherence Behaviors- Overall Chemotherapy Adherence
Overall chemotherapy adherence will be measured by the number of participants that complete chemotherapy. Chemotherapy adherence will be measured as having at least 80% or more of the recommended doses. Adherence will be calculated based on the planned and expected number of cycles divided by the number received (i.e., 6 chemotherapy cycles received/8 expected = 75% adherent).
Time frame: 36 Months
Secondary
Assess Perceived Involvement in Care: PCC Outcomes - Level of Engagement in Decision Making
Time frame: 36 Months
Assess Perceived Involvement in Care: PCC Outcomes - Perceptions of Doctor Behaviors by determining a more patient-centered encounter vs a more biomedically focused encounter.
Time frame: 36 Months
Assess Perceived Involvement in Care: PCC Outcomes - Perceptions of Patient Behaviors by determining Perceptions of Doctor Behaviors by determining a more patient-centered encounter vs a more biomedically focused encounter
Time frame: 36 Months
Determine Process and Implementation Outcomes
Time frame: 36 Months
Determine Process and Implementation Outcomes
Time frame: 36 Months
Determine Process and Implementation Outcomes
Time frame: 36 Months
Eligibility criteria
Study locations (3)
Medstar Georgetown University Hospital
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20007
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20010
Massey Cancer Center
Richmond, Virginia, 23298