South Middlesex Times

South Asian American women are being diagnosed with breast cancer at younger ages and more advanced stages compared to other groups, a concerning trend exacerbated by their underrepresentation in research studies, stated Jaya Satagopan, an associate dean at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Satagopan led a study focusing on recruiting South Asian women for breast cancer research, which was published in PLOS ONE.

Satagopan highlighted the effectiveness of using broadcast media, such as radio, for recruitment purposes during the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasized the importance of community partnerships and credibility, especially when traditional in-person interactions were limited due to the pandemic. The study, known as the South Asian Breast Cancer (SABCa) study, aimed to understand breast cancer-related health attitudes in the South Asian population.

The recruitment efforts for the SABCa study involved collaborating with community organizations and utilizing alternative strategies, such as promoting the study through community radio. Satagopan noted that radio became a trusted source of information, particularly among South Asian communities in the region. EBC Radio, a popular community radio station known for its diverse South Asian content, played a significant role in promoting the study using culturally resonant methods.

Satagopan underlined the importance of culturally tailored outreach approaches and the role of community radio and cultural brokers in recruiting and retaining participants. She also emphasized the support of men in encouraging women's participation in the study. Additionally, the study found that participants' comfort with technology and assistance with digital tools were crucial for their retention.

The study's findings suggest that the recruitment strategies employed during the pandemic can serve as a model for engaging understudied populations in research studies even beyond the current crisis. Satagopan recommended recognizing partnership limitations during crises, using multilingual protocols, engaging diverse cultural gatekeepers, and utilizing targeted social media advertising for future research endeavors.

The study, which involved collaboration with faculty from Rutgers Cancer Institute and Rutgers Cooperative Extension Department of Family and Community Health Sciences, sheds light on successful methods for recruiting South Asian women for breast cancer research, ultimately aiming to address the disparities in diagnosis and treatment within this population.