The deep systemic issues behind disparities in adherence to treatment in breast cancer
The stark and persistent disparity in breast cancer outcomes between black and white women is a public health dilemma that Vanessa Sheppard, PhD, has dedicated her career to addressing. Among the many reasons for this disparity is non-adherence to therapy, and in her new American Cancer Society-funded study, Dr. Sheppard has a plan to address that. In this interview, Dr. Sheppard describes Sisters Informing Sisters, the first communication skills intervention for newly diagnosed black breast cancer patients. Co-created with survivors, it has already shown great potential for improving equity in adherence to treatment in black women. Vanessa Sheppard, PhD, is Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, Associate Director of Disparities Research, and co-leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at Massey Cancer Center. 2:55 – Important distinction between health equity and health disparities 5:45 – On the many contributing factors to the breast cancer disparities experienced by African American women, including delays from diagnosis to treatment, treatment decisions, and their opportunities to make treatment decisions 11:08 – On the importance of the patient-provider relationship and patient-centered communication: “the broader research has shown that providers communicate differently with patients based on age and race/ethnicity” 16:17 – On the first education intervention for newly diagnosed African American breast cancer patients, Sisters Informing Sisters, which she co-created with survivors 22:07 – On her new American Cancer Society grant, which is funding the first large-scale trial to include culturally targeted adherence interventions for African American women with breast cancer: “This project is a project of my heart…It’s very personal in terms of the women that we’ve engaged to develop this intervention.” 27:40 – A message she’d like to share with cancer patients