Background: Black men continue to face higher mortality rates from prostate cancer (CaP) than other racial groups. Despite comprising 36.3% of the population, racial and ethnic minorities, particularly Blacks, remain underrepresented in clinical trials. To promote health equity, community-driven approaches like Community Advisory Boards (CABs) that incorporate diverse perspectives can inform approaches by enhancing access, engagement, and participation in clinical trials for underrepresented populations.
Objective: This presentation will describe the formation of a CAB composed of Black CaP survivors, and how the CAB has played a critical role in collaboratively shaping the health outcomes research agenda and culturally relevant interventions within the Multidisciplinary Health Outcomes Research and Economics (MORE) Lab.
Methods: Rooted in community engagement and integrated knowledge translation, a purposive sampling method was used to recruit eight members, including Black men with CaP, and a Black public health professional. The CAB met monthly via Zoom since 2021 to shape MORE lab research, enhance community engagement, and develop culturally relevant interventions. Meetings were audio-recorded, with minutes kept for transparency. Members attended at least 9 of 12 annual meetings and received $1,000 annually.
Results: Most participants were Native-born Black men (50%) residing in the Southeast (50%), with 37% having some college education. The CAB has significantly shaped the research agenda of the MORE lab and has enhanced community engagement among Black men with CaP. Their collaborative efforts have informed the development of culturally tailored research strategies, grant applications, peer-reviewed articles, and outreach initiatives, including virtual town halls, media engagements, and a book club focused on advocacy and wellness. The CAB’s contributions have also influenced targeted health campaigns, improved recruitment strategies, and fostered trust between researchers and the Black community, ultimately leading to more effective and ethical research practices.
Conclusion: The MORE Lab CAB has been vital in addressing health disparities, demonstrating the role of CABs in advancing health equity and ethical research. Ongoing assessments will inform the refinement of future strategies. The success of the MORE Lab CAB offers a model for implementing similar approaches to address disparities in other underserved populations.