Understanding the barriers to and attitudes toward integrative oncology for African Americans with cancer

Abstract Despite modern advances in screening, diagnosis, and treatment, Black individuals in the United States remain disproportionately affected by cancer and have the highest mortality and lowest survival for most cancers. There is minimal data on the uptake and acceptability of integrative oncology among Black individuals, likely due to a lack of diversity in study participants, poor accrual, and racial/ethnic or cultural differences in the acceptability of study interventions/instruments. Research lacks the acceptability of complementary approaches for cancer prevention/disease modification or management of cancer/treatment-related side effects in this population. Results from this pilot will guide efforts to enhance the recruitment of Black individuals to integrative oncology programs. This study will provide data to support integrative oncology programs specifically for Black patients with cancer. Findings will also help guide future research on what modalities are most efficacious and recommendations to increase engagement in research for this patient population. Future research might also facilitate an understanding of the mechanisms of action involved with these interventions. Citation Format: Chanda L. Williams, Sorbarikor Piawah, Chloe Atreya, Dalila Stanfield, Kendall Levine, Adrienne Yang. Understanding the barriers to and attitudes toward integrative oncology for African Americans with cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B133.