Helping Older African American Cancer Survivors Cope

非裔美国人继续不成比例地患癌症。癌症的死亡率 人口仍然比白人高33%，是美国所有其他少数民族的两倍 人口。癌症的发病率随着年龄的增长而增加，大多数癌症病例发生在 55岁及以上的人，加重了老年人的癌症负担， 非裔美国人在本研究中，我们建议评估一份旨在测量应对的问卷 老年非裔美国人癌症幸存者使用的策略。帮助方式问卷（WHO） 通过对年长的非洲裔美国癌症幸存者的深入采访， 这一人群用来管理他们的癌症经历的策略。内容有效性已确定 由癌症幸存者，研究人员和临床医生在应对，肿瘤学和治疗方面的专业知识。试点 世界卫生组织对88名老年非裔美国人癌症幸存者的样本进行了测试， 信度和结构效度评价。因此，在这项研究中，我们提出了更广泛的分析， WHQ的心理测量特性。此外，我们还建议对WHQ的理论有效性进行检验 压力和应对理论框架。350例老年非裔美国人癌症 将从门诊肿瘤诊所招募幸存者进行可靠性测试（重测，内部 一致性）和有效性（因素分析，假设关联）。我们的初步研究数据和 其他人的研究表明，老年非裔美国人癌症幸存者主要通过宗教信仰来应对， 精神，并使用其他应对策略，其特点是给予和接受帮助，应对策略不 在现有的应对措施中。这项研究的长期目标是发展一种文化敏感的 推动干预研究的应对措施;解决促进 最佳的应对和积极的健康结果在这个医疗服务不足的人口。

African Americans continue to suffer disproportionately from cancer. The cancer mortality rate for this population remains 33% higher than for Caucasians and twice as high as the rates for all other U.S. minority populations. The occurrence of cancer increases with age, with the majority of cancer cases occuring in persons 55 years and older, compounding the cancer burden experienced by the individual who is older and African American. In this study, we propose to evaluate a questionnaire designed to measure coping strategies used by older African American cancer survivors. The Ways of Helping Questionnaire (WHO) was developed from in-depth interviews with older African American cancer survivors and captures unique coping strategies used by this population to manage their cancer experience. Content validity has been determined by cancer survivors, researchers, and clinicians with expertise in coping, oncology, and caregiving. Pilot testing of the WHO with a sample of 88 older African American cancer survivors has provided adequate reliability and construct validity evaluations. Thus, in this study, we propose a more extensive analysis of the psychometric properties of the WHQ. In addition, we propose to test the theoretical validity of the WHQ within the Stress and Coping Theoretical Framework. Three hundred and fifty older African American cancer survivors will be recruited from outpatient oncology clinics to conduct tests of reliability (test-retest, internal consistency) and validity (factor analsis, hypothesized associations). Data from our preliminary studies and that of others suggest that older African American cancer survivors cope primarily through religiosity and spirituality, and use other coping strategies characterized by giving and receiving help, coping strategies not emphasized in existing coping measures. The long-term goal of this study is to develop a culturally sensitive measure of coping that drives intervention studies; addressing the need for interventions that promote optimal coping and positive health outcomes among this medically underserved population.