Factors influencing disparities in quality of life among people of color affected by cancer (Disparities In SUrvivorShip carE- DISUSE): A mixed-method study

Dr Memnun Seven, Assistant Professor in the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, has received an Oncology Nursing Foundation Research Grant. Working with co-investigators Dr Allecia Reid from the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Dr Susan Sturgeon from the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, this pilot study will identify biological and socio-behavioral factors influencing the quality of life among Hispanic/Latinx and Black cancer survivors. The specific aims are to: 1) Describe experiences influencing quality of life; 2) Identify socio-behavioral determinants of health impacting quality of life during cancer survivorship; 3) Evaluate the relationship between stress and inflammatory response, and quality of life.

Cancer care advances have improved long-term survival rates, and the proportion of cancer survivors, specifically from racial/ethnic minoritized populations, is expected to increase. Yet, disparities in cancer care outcomes have widened, and survivors, particularly Hispanic/Latinx and Black people, experience quality of life challenges due to long-term/late effects of cancer treatment. The nature of health disparities is multifaceted, and multiple types of determinants contribute to cancer outcomes; however, health disparity research to date has focused mainly on quantifying each determinant's relative contributions rather than their collective impact. We will focus on this gap to further explore multilevel factors influencing quality of life and the interacting factors across multiple domains of influence (biological, social, behavioral) to mitigate the disparities in cancer survivorship care.