Promotores' perspectives on the virtual adaptation of a hereditary breast cancer education program.
Fabian PerezMiriam HernandezAlejandra MartinezPatricia CastanedaRaquel PonceMaria GonzalezCindia MartinezAngelica PerezJuanita Elizabeth QuinoEric Robles GaribayValentina A ZavalaXiaosong HuangSusan L NeuhausenElad ZivLuis Carvajal-CarmonaYsabel DuronLaura FejermanPublished in: Journal of genetic counseling (2023)
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States (U.S.) and the leading cause of cancer related death among U.S. Hispanics/Latinas (H/Ls). H/Ls have lower rates of screening and longer time to follow up after an abnormal mammogram. We developed a comprehensive community health educator (promotores)-led education and risk identification program for Spanish-speaking H/Ls in California to increase mammography screening, genetic testing, and the understanding of the impact of family history on cancer risk. Due to COVID-19, we adapted the program to a virtual platform. The experience of transforming the program to a virtual platform provided unique opportunities for collaboration between researchers, community partners, and participants. Promotores are major partners in community based participatory research and in the provision of health care services, but their voices are often excluded from scientific reports. This commentary is an effort to provide a platform for promotores to share their experiences and for the readers to understand their approach in bridging the gap between health care services and communities.
Keyphrases
- healthcare
- quality improvement
- mental health
- primary care
- coronavirus disease
- sars cov
- emergency department
- squamous cell carcinoma
- type diabetes
- magnetic resonance
- magnetic resonance imaging
- breast cancer risk
- affordable care act
- pregnant women
- metabolic syndrome
- adipose tissue
- squamous cell
- young adults
- insulin resistance
- social media
- drug induced
- pregnancy outcomes