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Oregon's Familias en Acción replicates benefits for underserved cancer co‐survivors through Un Abrazo Para la Familia
Author(s) -
Marshall Catherine A.,
Curran Melissa A.,
Brownmiller Gail,
Solarte Ambar,
Armin Julie,
Hamann Heidi A.,
Crist Janice D.,
Niemelä Mika,
Badger Terry A.,
Weihs Karen L.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.4841
Subject(s) - psychosocial , intervention (counseling) , gerontology , psychology , coping (psychology) , health equity , medicine , family medicine , nursing , clinical psychology , psychiatry , public health
Objective Our goal in this study was to determine if we could replicate initial findings when providing the intervention, Un Abrazo Para La Familia (“Abrazo”). Abrazo is a community‐focused psychoeducational preventive intervention addressing the cancer information and coping needs of low‐income, underserved family members of cancer survivors, developed and first implemented in Tucson, Arizona. Methods We used a preintervention and postintervention evaluation design to assess the effectiveness of replicating the Abrazo intervention with underserved Hispanic/Latino family members facing cancer as co‐survivors. We describe lessons learned in an expansion of Abrazo from one region of the United States to another. Results Portland promotoras demonstrated that when the Abrazo intervention is provided via a culturally congruent, accessible format, the significant gains in cancer knowledge and self‐efficacy reported by underserved co‐survivors can be replicated. This is important because Oregon represents a US region different from Abrazo's origins in the Southwest. Conclusion Our replication study provides a useful roadmap for others focusing on the psychosocial needs of Hispanic/Latino cosurviving family members of cancer. A manualized 12‐hour training program based on the initial discovery and efficacy work was developed to train promotoras as a part of this study. The manual provides a clear protocol for others to replicate our intervention and evaluation procedures. Abrazo may be particularly important for family‐centered care if the family does not have the cancer knowledge or self‐confidence needed to fully participate.