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Rural populations continue to experience persistent cancer disparities compared with urban populations particularly in cancers that can be prevented or detected early through screening and vaccination. Although the National Cancer Institute and the larger cancer research community have identified rural community partnerships as the foundation for reducing the disparities, we have identified limited application of community-based participatory research in cancer prevention and control research. Guided by the Community-Based Participatory Research Conceptual Model and our collective experience, we provide a framework for a community-cancer center partnership that focuses on promoting health equity. In this commentary, we articulate that the partnership process must foster capacity for communities and cancer centers, strive for rural representation in clinical trials and biobanking, build a pipeline for dissemination and implementation research, and create a bidirectional flow of knowledge between communities and academic institutions. Authentic partnerships with rural communities should be the ultimate goal of cancer centers, and the process described in this commentary can serve as an initial platform to build capacity and continue to strive toward that goal.

The purpose of this article is to describe the development of a theory-based, culturally and gender-relevant Community Health Worker (CWH)-led tobacco cessation intervention for low-income Brazilian women who augments the tobacco cessation program offered through the public health system using Intervention Mapping (IM). We began with the establishment of a network of representatives from different segments of society followed by comprehensive needs assessments. We then established a logical planning process that was guided by a theoretical framework (Social Cognitive Theory) and existing evidence-based tobacco cessation programs, taking into account socio-political context of a universal health care system. Given the gender-relevance of our intervention and the importance of social support in tobacco cessation among women, we chose an intervention that would be delivered within the public health system but augmented by CHWs that would be trained in behavior change by researchers. One of major advantages of utilizing IM was that decisions were made in a transparent and supportive manner with involvement of all stakeholders throughout the process. Despite the fact that this process is very taxing on researchers and the health care system as it takes time, resources and negotiation skills, it builds trust and promotes ownership which can assure sustainability.

IntroductionThe Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) program was launched in 1997. Its goal is to build infrastructure to improve the well-being of older racial/ethnic minorities by identifying mechanisms to reduce health disparities.MethodsIts primary objectives are to mentor faculty in research addressing the health of minority elders and to enhance the diversity of the workforce that conducts elder health research by prioritizing the mentorship of underrepresented diverse scholars.ResultsThrough 2015, 12 centers received RCMAR awards and provided pilot research funding and mentorship to 361 scholars, 70% of whom were from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups. A large majority (85%) of RCMAR scholars from longstanding centers continue in academic research. Another 5% address aging and other health disparities through nonacademic research and leadership roles in public health agencies.ConclusionsLongitudinal, team-based mentoring, cross-center scholar engagement, and community involvement in scholar development are important contributors to RCMAR's success.

Introduction: Adoption of telemedicine by healthcare facilities has dramatically increased since the start of coronavirus pandemic; yet, major differences exist in universal acceptance of telemedicine across different population groups. The goal of this study was to examine population-based factors associated with current and/or future use of telemedicine in Alabama. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 532 participants online or by phone, in four urban and eight rural counties in Alabama. Data were collected on: demographics, health insurance coverage, medical history, access to technology, and its use in accessing healthcare services. Generalized logit regression models were used to estimate the odds of choosing "virtual visit" and "phone communication" compared to "in-person visit" for the preferred choice of visit with the healthcare provider; as well as odds for willingness to participate in "virtual visit" in the future. Results: Our study sample had a mean age of 43 (±15) years, 72.9% women, 45.9% Black or African American; 59.4% population living in an urban county. The odds of "phone communication" were higher compared to the odds of "in-person visit", with a unit increase in age (odds ratio: 1.02, 95% confidence interval: 1.00–1.03), after adjusting for other covariates. Among participants with past experience of virtual communications, the odds for choosing "virtual visit" were significantly higher compared to choice of in-person visit (odds ratio for virtual visit: 3.23, 95% confidence interval: 2.01–5.18), adjusted for other covariates. Further, people with college or more education were 71% less likely to choose "No" compared to those with high school or lower general education development education for future virtual visit [odds ratio for college or more: 0.29, 95% confodence interval: 0.10–0.87). Likewise, participants residing in rural counties were 57% less likely to choose "No" compared to urban counties for future virtual visit (odds ratio for rural participants: 0.43, 95% confidence interval:0.19–0.97) Discussion: Our study found notable differences in age, education, and rurality for use and/or preference for telemedicine. Medical institutions and healthcare providers will need to account for these differences to ensure that the implementation of telemedicine does not exacerbate existing health disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the interactions between race/ethnicity and income across different types of tobacco products. Methods: The prevalence of past 30-day use of cigarettes, traditional cigars, cigarillos, filtered little cigars, and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) among adults was examined by race/ethnicity and income levels based on wave 5 (2018-2019) data of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study. Results: Multivariate analysis across race/ethnicity and income showed that, although non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs) were significantly more than likely to smoke cigarettes than non-HispanicWhites (NHWs) at low- and high-income levels, such disparity only applied to low-income Hispanics compared with low-income NHWs. NHBswere significantly more likely to smoke traditional cigars, cigarillos, and filtered little cigars than NHWs at low and high incomes. No differences were found between Hispanics and NHWs with regard to traditional cigars and cigarillos. However, low-income Hispanics were significantly less likely to smoke filtered little cigars than NHWs, whereas high-income Hispanics were more likely to do so than NHWs. With regard to ENDS, significant differences were only found at the low-income bracket with NHBs and Hispanics being less likely to smoke these products than NHWs. Conclusions: Our findings highlight significant interactions between race/ethnicity and income in the use of tobacco products, suggesting that income should be taken into account when designing interventions targeting different racial/ethnic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]