Hispanic Community Perceptions of Needs and Opportunities for Cancer Prevention and Screening in Kentucky (RPA Pilot / Seed Project)

This pilot study aims to conduct a community-engaged assessment of needs and opportunities for cancer prevention and screening and related social determinants of health (SDOH) in the KY Hispanic population. Building on previous outreach relationships, our team has established a new collaborative academic-community research partnership with 4 Hispanic-serving community-based organizations, which will be coordinated through a formal Project Committee. The overall goal of the proposed pilot study is to guide the planning of new collaborative community-engaged research and outreach efforts with these community partners to address the needs and community priorities identified through the study. To accomplish this goal, the specific aims are to: 1) Generate a detailed demographic profile of the Hispanic population in Kentucky, 2) Assess top health concerns and cancer-related needs among the KY Hispanic population, 3) Examine key social determinants of health that act as barriers and facilitators to health care access and cancer-related health behaviors, and 4) Identify community assets and community-driven solutions. To our knowledge, this will be the first study to assess the cancer prevention and screening needs of the KY Hispanic population. The proposed study will conduct innovative analysis of Census/population data and newly-collected survey data to examine heterogeneity within the KY Hispanic population, map the geographic distribution of the population and community assets, and assess cancer prevention and screening behaviors. Mixed methods will complement quantitative analyses with qualitative data from community stakeholder interviews and photovoice to generate a deeper understanding of the interplay between SDOH and relevant behaviors, to highlight lived experiences, and to identify communitydriven solutions. We will work with the partner organizations to disseminate study findings to the participating communities and to prepare subsequent extramural funding applications to develop/adapt and test new or existing evidence-based, culturally-appropriate interventions to address the identified needs and strategies.