Stress, isolation, knowledge and beliefs about cancer. His research team received a $9.8 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to examine a wide range of factors that may affect social, emotional, and physical well-being. Dr. Penedo ’ s team will study: social Sociodemographic factors like income, insurance coverage, and access to health care. Ethnic factors such as perceived discrimination and acculturation. Psychosocial factors like optimism and social support networks at home and beyond. Behavioral factors like diet, physical activity, and adherence to the prescribed treatment plan. Researchers have examined these kinds of issues in cancer patients before, but they have rarely focused on large samples of Hispanic patients. Even when researchers have done so, they have focused almost exclusively on people of Mexican descent since they represent more than 60% of the Hispanic population in the U.S. That’s why Dr. Penedo’s team is recruiting a total of 3,000 patients that are split 50-50 between people of Mexican descent and those of other Hispanic backgrounds. “It ’ s the first study that ’ s going to have a critical number of Hispanics of diverse backgrounds and comprehensively assess all of these factors at the same time longitudinally,” he said. “This will allow us to better understand some of the differences that we observe across Hispanic groups and target programs to alleviate the burden of cancer.”
A total of 1,500 participants will be recruited in South Florida to study people of Caribbean, Central American, and South American descent. They are also teaming with researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio to recruit 1,500 people of Mexican descent. “I don ’ t expect to find much of a difference between how a Cuban and a Mexican versus a Colombian or a Puerto Rican copes and adjusts to cancer,” Dr. Penedo said.
To participate in the study, people must be 18 years or older, be able to read in English or Spanish, are willing to visit the center for psychological assessments, and have completed primary treatment for breast, prostate, colon, kidney, lung, liver, stomach, or uterine cancer within the previous seven years. Participants will receive $50 each time they are evaluated – once at the start of the study, once after six months, once after one year, and then once a year afterward. To learn more, interested participants in South Florida can call 305-243-7777 or email caminos@miami.edu . The following health information is brought to you by UHealth - University of Miami Health System. This information is not intended to replace medical advice from your physician. Learn more at news.umiamihealth.org
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But I do expect to find differences in experienced stressors, socioeconomic status, and other social determinants of health to help us better understand whether we need to focus on one factor versus another within specific Hispanic communities. This approach may give us the ability to develop more precise interventions. Dr. Penedo
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