Cancer Health Literacy and Willingness to Participate in Cancer Research and Donate Bio-Specimens

Margarita Echeverri, David Anderson, Anna María Nápoles, Jacqueline M. Haas, Marc E. Johnson and Friar Sergio A. Serrano
Additional contact information
Margarita Echeverri: College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana; New Orleans, LA 70125, USA
David Anderson: Department of Mathematics, Xavier University of Louisiana; New Orleans, LA 70125, USA
Anna María Nápoles: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Jacqueline M. Haas: Multicultural Community Advisory Board, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
Marc E. Johnson: African American, Cancer Community Advisory Board, Kenner, LA 70063, USA
Friar Sergio A. Serrano: Latino Community Advisory Board, Hispanic Apostolate; Metairie, LA 70003, USA

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: Although it has been well documented that poor health literacy is associated with limited participation in cancer clinical trials, studies assessing the relationships between cancer health literacy (CHL) and participation in research among diverse populations are lacking. In this study, we examined the relationship between CHL and willingness to participate in cancer research and/or donate bio-specimens (WPRDB) among African Americans, Latinos, and Whites. Participants completed the Cancer Health Literacy Test and the Multidimensional Cancer Literacy Questionnaire. Total-scale and subscale scores, frequencies, means, and distributions were computed. Analyses of variance, the Bonferroni procedure, and the Holm method were used to examine significant differences among groups. Cronbach’s alphas estimated scales’ internal consistency reliability. Significant interactions were found between race/ethnicity, gender, and CHL on WPRDB scales and subscale scores, even after education and age were taken into account. Our study confirms that CHL plays an important role that should be considered and researched further. The majority of participants were more willing to participate in non-invasive research studies (surveys, interviews, and training) or collection of bio-specimens (saliva, check cells, urine, and blood) and in studies led by their own healthcare providers, and local hospitals and universities. However, participants were less willing to participate in more-invasive studies requiring them to take medications, undergo medical procedures or donate skin/tissues. We conclude that addressing low levels of CHL and using community-based participatory approaches to address the lack of knowledge and trust about cancer research among diverse populations may increase not only their willingness to participate in research and donate bio-specimens, but may also have a positive effect on actual participation rates.

Keywords: cancer research; minorities; cancer health literacy; community-based participatory research; African Americans; Blacks; Hispanics; Latinos; Whites (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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