ADAPTING A BREAST CANCER CONTROL INTERVENTION FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN BELOW SCREENING AGE: A CO-DESIGN APPROACH

Abstract

Background: Despite African American women below screening age facing greater mortality from early onset breast cancer relative to similar aged peers of other races/ethnicities and African American women of screening age, little attention is given to this group of younger women. Evidence-based breast cancer educational interventions do not exist for this group of younger women. The purpose of the current work was to address the gap of evidence-based breast cancer educational interventions for African American women below screening age. Aims: The current study had two aims. Aim 1 was to adapt an evidence-based breast cancer educational intervention for African American women of screening age, to be targeted to younger African American women (i.e. those below screening age) using a systematic process guided by the seven-step adaptation framework by Card and colleagues, documented using an established implementation science model, the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications Enhanced Model (FRAME), and using a virtual co-design approach. Aim 2 was to assess the appropriateness of the adapted intervention for African American women below screening age through online surveys administered at the conclusion of Community Chat sessions. Methods: The adaptation process was guided by Card and colleagues’ seven-step framework. Five virtual co-design sessions with n=15 potential users and key stakeholders were conducted in step 7. Observational notes and FRAME Form data were collected from the co-design sessions and analyzed using five-step thematic and descriptive statistics analyses, respectively. Appropriateness data was collected through an online survey; quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and open-text survey responses were analyzed using five-step thematic analysis. Results: Application of Card and colleagues’ seven step framework was described. Six themes emerged from observing virtual co-design sessions: technological tools can encourage equal participation; personal relationships and stories enhance design; participants introduced content to promote equity; context of original intervention critical to adapt; challenges to virtual designing; and need for facilitator during co-design. Documentation of the adaptation process guided by FRAME found 14 adaptations led to “Black and Breasted (B&B)”, an Instagram and beauty brand partnership-based breast health education tool prototype. Motivations for adaptations were to promote fit (100%), reach (71%), and equity (29%). Adaptations were content (63%) and context-related (37%). All participants rated B&B as highly appropriate—selecting an average of 4.5 (SD=1.4) and 1.2 (SD=.75) reasons, respectively, B&B would and would not be a good fit. Thematic analysis of open-text responses on how to further enhance B&B identified four themes: increase strategies to improve health equity, use multiple social media, consider non-beauty brands, revise visuals/messages. Conclusions & Implications: While usage of the implementation science models led to a highly appropriate adapted intervention, initial testing identified the need for further strategies to improve equity of health outcomes through the intervention. Findings indicate implementation science frameworks may benefit from centering equity more. Co-design may also be an apt approach to promote health equity in public health interventions.