Community Engagement

Several of our research studies utilize a community-engaged research approach with local community investigator partners, bringing study methods and interventions in line with the needs of the underserved populations they are intended to reach and assist.

Currently in-progress

Using mHealth to Connect Cancer Patients with Disabilities with Matched Disabled Survivors
This is a pilot study under a larger NIH-funded U54 grant focusing on cancer health disparities reduction. The purpose of WeCanConnect is to develop and adapt an mHealth support tool which will enable one-to-one peer support between individuals with pre-existing disabilities and newly diagnosed cancer (mentees), and matched disabled cancer survivor peers (mentors).

investigators

Co-Principal Investigators
Jennifer Banas, MPH, MSEd, EdD, Susan Magasi, PhD, & David Victorson, PhD.

Sponsors

National Cancer Institute parent study (PI: Simon) & Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative ChicagoCHEC - 1P20CA165592-01

Completed

Eliminating Stress, Tension & Overweight thru Yoga & Lifestyle Interventions – Survivors Taking Action (ESTOY LISTA)
A Community-Based Participatory Research study examining the biopsychosocial impact of a Spanish language community yoga intervention for Hispanic cancer survivors and their care providers. . In addition to self-report questionnaires, this study is also collecting biomarkers of stress and inflammation (CRP, IL-6).

investigators

Co-Principal Investigators
David Victorson, PhD and Judy Guitelman

publications & presentations

Click here to view a Spanish-language presentation of our early study findings at a Town Hall Meeting for Cancer Survivorship in the Latino Community

sponsors

Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern Medicine and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center

Identifying Needs Together through Engaged Research - Community/Academic Meetings to Bridge Initiatives in Obesity and Stress (INTERCAMBIOS)
This research initiative brought together community and academic partners to facilitate meaningful exchange around topics of obesity and chronic stress prevention/reduction in the Chicago Latino communities.

investigators

Co-Principal Investigators
David Victorson, PhD. and Esther Sciammarella, MS

sponsor

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

mHealth Application to Enhance Support, Treatment Readiness and Adjustment (MAESTRA)
MAESTRA originated from an NIH-funded pilot project from within a larger P20 grant focusing on cancer health disparities reduction. The purpose of this app is to connect limited English speaking (or monolingual Spanish speaking) Latinos diagnosed with cancer with matched cancer survivor peers in order to increase knowledge, information sharing, self-efficacy and needed social connection.

investigators

Co-Principal Investigators
David Victorson, PhD & Jennifer Banas, MPH, MSEd, EdD, CHES

presentations & publications

Banas J, Victorson D, Gutierrez S, Cordero E, Guitelman J, Haas N. (2017). Developing a peer-to-peer mHealth application to connect Hispanic cancer patients. Journal of Cancer Education, 32(1):158-165 (PMID: 27364905)

Victorson D, Banas J, Smith J, Languido L, Shen E, Gutierrez S, Cordero E, Flores L. (2014). eSalud: designing and implementing culturally competent ehealth research with Latino patient populations. Am J Public Health, 104(12):2259-65. PMC4232154

sponsor

National Cancer Institute parent study (PI: Cella) “NU: NEIGHBORS: A SOCIAL SCIENCE PARTNERSHIP TO REDUCE CANCER DISPARITIES - 1P20CA165592-01”