Reducing Lung Cancer Risk among Appalachian Women Using Community‐Engaged Intervention Research - PROJECT SUMMARY Appalachian women are at high risk for lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death for women in the US, including the Appalachian region. Although lung cancer rates have declined steadily among men since the 1990s, such decreases have not been seen among women, including alarming mortality rates in Central Appalachia. Interventions to reduce lung cancer risk among Appalachian women need to consider social and environmental contexts. Research: This project, titled Reducing Lung Cancer Risk among Appalachian Women Using Community-Engaged Intervention Research, relies on community perspectives to guide the selection, adaptation, and pilot testing of a culturally-targeted intervention to reduce lung cancer risk among Appalachian women. We will employ the NIH model for creating behavioral intervention trials to inform the refinement of an intervention through direct community input (Phase 1a; Aim 1; K99) and to pilot test the selected and adapted intervention protocol using a 2-armed randomized controlled trial (Phase 1b; Aim 2; R00). In the pilot with Central Appalachian KY women, we will demonstrate the feasibility of the adapted intervention protocol, including demand, acceptability, and implementation. The selected intervention will seek to increase knowledge, self-efficacy, and targeted behaviors among Appalachian women thereby reducing their future lung cancer risk and, ultimately, lung cancer disparities among women in the Appalachian region. Candidate: Dr. Jessica Thompson is a postdoctoral scholar in an NCI-designated cancer center at the University of Kentucky (UK) with extensive previous training in community-engaged mixed methods research and chronic disease prevention among Appalachian women. Three training goals will enhance her trajectory toward becoming an independent investigator, including developing expertise in: 1) the use of participatory systems science and community- engaged approaches to select and adapt an intervention; 2) lung cancer prevention and risk reduction interventions; and 3) intervention development and implementation science. Mentors/Environment: Dr. Thompson’s career development plan includes substantial mentorship, didactic training, and experiential learning at the UK Markey Cancer Center (MCC) with additional support from the UK Center for Health Equity Transformation (CHET) and the UK Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS). She will receive direct mentorship from MCC Community Impact Office director Dr. Pamela Hull (Primary Mentor) and CHET director Dr. Nancy Schoenberg (Co-Primary Mentor) with additional mentorship from Dr. Ellen Hahn (Mentor) in lung cancer prevention and risk reduction, Dr. Teresa Waters (Mentor) in assessments of intervention effectiveness and health economics, and Dr. Jessica Burke (Mentor; University of Pittsburgh) in systems science and participatory methods. Overall, the objectives of this K99/R00 application will advance lung cancer intervention research for Appalachian women by providing evidence for a future R01 submission and support Dr. Thompson’s training as an independent scientist in implementing interventions to improve the health of Appalachian women.
