Improving the Assessment of Patient-reported Outcomes among Black/African-American Cancer Patients

Project Summary Willi L. Tarver is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, College of Medicine at The Ohio State University. Dr. Tarver is responding to PAR-21-295 to obtain the skills, knowledge and mentored research experience that are essential for a career as a research scientist focusing on cancer health informatics

and health disparities research. His long-term goal is to build an independent program of research that utilizes health information technologies to improve cancer care and cancer health equity. The short-term goals for the award period include: 1) gaining formal training in psychometrics and practical experience with Patient-Reported

Outcomes (PROs) and their assessment in the cancer context, 2) expanding knowledge and skills of Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research Approaches; 3) gaining formal training in health disparities research, with a focus on approaches to cancer health disparities studies; and 4) developing leadership skills training for research

scientists, including training in manuscript writing and grantsmanship toward building a presence in his respective field. Blacks or African-Americans experience a greater cancer burden and poorer health outcomes, and face more negative social determinants of health (SDH) (e.g., lower socioeconomic status, more barriers to care, etc)

than their non-Hispanic White counterparts. PROs provide additional prognostic information that may lead to more patient-centered care, improved patient-provider communication, and better clinical outcomes such as survival. However, studies have shown that Black cancer patients are less likely to complete PROs and more

likely to report difficulty in understanding the wording of PRO questions. Furthermore, adequately assessing PROs in this population may require the collection of data beyond standard clinical measures, such as SDH. This proposal is aimed at improving the assessment of patient-reported outcomes among Black cancer patients.

I will conduct qualitative interviews with Black cancer patients to understand the concerns and barriers to (e.g., computer literacy, security concerns, etc.) and facilitators of (e.g., education or other assistance) completing PROs and SDH items. I will also conduct qualitative interviews with cancer care providers to understand their

barriers to and facilitators of the collection of PROs and information about SDH, their information needs, and their preferences for assessing and using PROs and SDH in providing care for their cancer patients. The knowledge derived from the interviews of patients and providers will inform the development, refinement, and

implementation of a PRO/SDH tool tailored to the needs and preferences of Black patients and their cancer care providers. The resulting PRO/SDH tool and delivery approach will undergo feasibility testing and will be adapted in a manner supportive of provider workflow. The research accomplished during this award period will lay the

foundation for a randomized trial to test the effects of providing cancer care providers with PRO/SDH data on provision of care and clinical decision-making and examining whether changes in medical treatment and care are indicated.