Collaboration strategies to involve Black women's perspectives in community engaged breast cancer research

Abstract Purpose: While advancements in treatment and genomic research in breast cancer are on the rise, breast cancer (BC) disparities continue to widen. Black women disproportionately have the worst prognosis and survival rates from BC compared to all racial/ethnic groups of women. Community engagement and dissemination of disparities focused research may help mitigate poor outcomes among Black women. The goal of this study was to build sustainable research-partnerships with community-based organizations to promote guideline concordant breast cancer surveillance behaviors among Black breast cancer survivors. Methods: Several partnerships were formed to conduct breast cancer research among Black women. Community building and communication tools were developed and evaluated to help shape and sustain meaningful research working relationships with breast cancer focused community organizations. Results: Partnerships were commonly established from shared goals and missions. Frequent communication and strength-based activities were key tenants in developing impactful partnerships and research initiatives. From these partnerships a breast cancer campaign, web-based communication platform and rich secondary and qualitative data were collected from a community cohort of Black and White breast cancer survivors (N=266). Conclusion: Communication tools, iterative goal settings and community engaged approaches were essential in launching several research initiatives and outreach to Black women. To date our collaboration practices have resulted in novel and increased recruitment efforts that provide implications for research participation from Black women. Citation Format: Megan C. Edmonds. Collaboration strategies to involve Black women’s perspectives in community engaged breast cancer research [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B082.