Improving Communication and Adherence in Black Breast Cancer Survivors (Sisters Informing Sisters)
Purpose
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.
Condition
- Breast Cancer
Eligibility
- Eligible Ages
- Over 18 Years
- Eligible Genders
- Female
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Self-identify as Black
- Newly diagnosed (~4 weeks post-definitive surgery and prior to initiation of adjuvant
chemotherapy or endocrine therapy) patients (stage I-III)
- Eligible for chemotherapy or endocrine therapy according to NCCN guidelines, but have
not initiated systemic therapy
- Ability to read and speak English
- Ability to provide meaningful consent as determined by trained study personnel and/or
a member of the patient's care team
- No prior cancer treatment (other than skin cancer) in the two years preceding
enrollment
- Physicians Must be a license doctor of study patient(s)
- Ability to speak English
Study Design
- Phase
- N/A
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel Assignment
- Primary Purpose
- Health Services Research
- Masking
- None (Open Label)
Arm Groups
| Arm | Description | Assigned Intervention |
|---|---|---|
|
Experimental Sisters Informing Sisters Sessions |
The intervention is peer-based and in concert with our theoretical model, builds upon positive role-modeling of the survivor coach to the patient, addresses behavioral expectations/capacities, and uses Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques. The intervention includes a culturally relevant coach's manual and a patient workbook that will be used to facilitate the coaching sessions. |
|
|
No Intervention Enhanced Usual Care |
Women in the EUC arm will receive usual care that includes standardized information in the public domain (NCI treatment information booklet). This booklet was chosen to provide women with national-level recommendations regarding treatment recommendations. |
|
Recruiting Locations
Washington, District of Columbia 20007
More Details
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- Virginia Commonwealth University
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.