Project Details
Description
PROJECT SUMMARY
Appalachian women are at high risk for lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death
for women in the US, including the Appalachian region. Although lung cancer rates have declined steadily among
men since the 1990s, such decreases have not been seen among women, including alarming mortality rates in
Central Appalachia. Interventions to reduce lung cancer risk among Appalachian women need to consider social
and environmental contexts. Research: This project, titled Reducing Lung Cancer Risk among Appalachian
Women Using Community-Engaged Intervention Research, relies on community perspectives to guide the
selection, adaptation, and pilot testing of a culturally-targeted intervention to reduce lung cancer risk among
Appalachian women. We will employ the NIH model for creating behavioral intervention trials to inform the
refinement of an intervention through direct community input (Phase 1a; Aim 1; K99) and to pilot test the selected
and adapted intervention protocol using a 2-armed randomized controlled trial (Phase 1b; Aim 2; R00). In the
pilot with Central Appalachian KY women, we will demonstrate the feasibility of the adapted intervention protocol,
including demand, acceptability, and implementation. The selected intervention will seek to increase knowledge,
self-efficacy, and targeted behaviors among Appalachian women thereby reducing their future lung cancer risk
and, ultimately, lung cancer disparities among women in the Appalachian region. Candidate: Dr. Jessica
Thompson is a postdoctoral scholar in an NCI-designated cancer center at the University of Kentucky (UK) with
extensive previous training in community-engaged mixed methods research and chronic disease prevention
among Appalachian women. Three training goals will enhance her trajectory toward becoming an independent
investigator, including developing expertise in: 1) the use of participatory systems science and community-
engaged approaches to select and adapt an intervention; 2) lung cancer prevention and risk reduction
interventions; and 3) intervention development and implementation science. Mentors/Environment: Dr.
Thompson’s career development plan includes substantial mentorship, didactic training, and experiential
learning at the UK Markey Cancer Center (MCC) with additional support from the UK Center for Health Equity
Transformation (CHET) and the UK Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS). She will receive direct
mentorship from MCC Community Impact Office director Dr. Pamela Hull (Primary Mentor) and CHET director
Dr. Nancy Schoenberg (Co-Primary Mentor) with additional mentorship from Dr. Ellen Hahn (Mentor) in lung
cancer prevention and risk reduction, Dr. Teresa Waters (Mentor) in assessments of intervention effectiveness
and health economics, and Dr. Jessica Burke (Mentor; University of Pittsburgh) in systems science and
participatory methods. Overall, the objectives of this K99/R00 application will advance lung cancer intervention
research for Appalachian women by providing evidence for a future R01 submission and support Dr. Thompson’s
training as an independent scientist in implementing interventions to improve the health of Appalachian women.
Status | Active |
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Effective start/end date | 5/1/24 → 5/1/25 |
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