Community impact

What are factors that contribute to the unequal burden of breast cancer among diverse communities? Are there policy alternatives that would reduce disparities in access to prevention, risk reduction, detection, treatment, support, and/or survivorship services for groups who have historically faced barriers to access? What is the influence of poverty, race/ethnicity, and environmental factors on breast cancer? What are the sociocultural, behavioral, and psychological issues of people affected by breast cancer and what services are needed to reduce the suffering caused by the disease? We encourage health policy; health services; and sociocultural, behavioral, and psychological research that address disparities and the burden of breast cancer among California's diverse communities. 

Specific topics include:

Health policy — We encourage research examining the impact of public and private health policy on issues related to prevention, risk reduction, detection, and treatment of breast cancer as well as research into the formulation of policy alternatives that would reduce disparities related to prevention, risk reduction, detection, survivorship, and treatment of breast cancer.

Health services — We encourage research examining the delivery of breast cancer-related services and how to most effectively deliver services, especially to communities that have historically faced disproportional barriers to access.

Sociocultural, behavioral and psychological issues relevant to breast cancer: the human side — We encourage research into the sociocultural, behavioral, and psychological issues of people affected by breast cancer or who are at high risk for developing the disease. Research that examines patient and practitioner interactions, enhancing quality of life, long-term survival, and participation in clinical research is encouraged; especially research addressing the needs of people with a higher risk of developing breast cancer and groups that have been identified as disproportionately underserved by breast cancer research and service providers.

Disparities: eliminating the unequal burden of breast cancer — We encourage research that aims to reduce disparities in breast cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality.  These include disparities in access to prevention, risk reduction, treatment, and/or survivorship services based on factors related to race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographic location, sexual orientation, ability, age, occupation, and/or other factors. Intervention research that promotes health equity and reduces disparities is encouraged.