Quality of Life of Ethnically Diverse Black Prostate Cancer Survivors: Development of a Conceptual Model Using Grounded Theory
Abstract
Objective and Rationale: Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among American men and the second leading cause of cancer death. Although prostate cancer death rates continue to drop nationwide, the decline among Black men lags significantly behind that of other racial/ethnic groups. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 5-year relative survival (percentage of men who will survive the disease 5 years after diagnosis) for prostate cancer from 2001-2004 was 97% among all American men and 95% among Black men. This high survival rate means a high percentage of patients will live with the effects of this disease for a long time. Therefore, research is critical to explore and better understand the experiences of Black men who have survived prostate cancer. Knowledge gained from this proposed study will inform the design of culturally appropriate intervention programs aimed at improving the quality of life for Black men diagnosed and treated for this disease and reduce disparities in mortality rate. Our goal then is to get a fuller understanding of the experiences and needs of Black men who have survived prostate cancer. To achieve this goal, we plan on answering the following relevant questions: From the time these Black men are diagnosed with prostate cancer to when they are treated and beyond, what do their experiences with prostate cancer, in general, look like? Are there any similarities or differences among Black men who were born in either the United States, Africa, or the Caribbean? If there are any differences, could it be due to the cultural differences or something else? Based on what we find during our study, what next steps can we take to improve the experiences of Black men who have survived prostate cancer? Methods: Because of how complex capturing experiences with surveys can be, we will instead conduct interviews in up to 45 prostate cancer survivors in Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma, including 15 U.S.-born, 15 Caribbean-born, and 15 African-born Black men. We will collect the data using audio recordings, and the interviews will focus on understanding the experiences and needs of these Black men since they were diagnosed with prostate cancer. The interview data will be used to develop a quality of life model specific to Black prostate cancer survivors. In addition, conducting this research will give the principal investigator the much-needed training in conducting cancer-related research that involves community engagement. Applicability of the Research: After creating and testing the quality of life model for validity in prostate cancer survivors, we will then develop an intervention program that will support newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients. We anticipate that this intervention program will be developed in 3-5 years upon completion of this study. The career goal of the principal investigator – Dr. Ogunsanya – is to become an independent scientist with expertise in cancer health disparity research. The proposed study is designed to propel Dr. Ogunsanya to research independence through structured mentoring, didactic training, research implementation, and grant-writing workshops under the mentorship of Dr. Folakemi Odedina, Dr. Parker, and Dr. Young. Monthly in-person meetings with Dr. Parker will focus on the clinical application of prostate cancer research, while monthly Zoom conference meetings with Dr. Odedina and Dr. Young will focus on collaborative grant-writing opportunities, research skill acquisition, peer-review publications, community engagement skills, study implementation, intervention, and career development. Additionally, this research project will provide Dr. Ogunsanya with protected time to immerse herself in research and establish her reputation in cancer health disparity research through a completed project, publications, and career mentoring. There will also be immediate deliverables by the end of the study, such as peer-revi
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 10, 2021
- Source ID
- W81XWH2010080
Entities
People
- Motolani Ogunsanya
Organizations
- United States Army
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center