Abstract C027: Evaluating a community-centered training program to strengthen advocates’ readiness to promote clinical research participation

Abstract

Participation of underrepresented populations in clinical trials is vital for cancer research and care. The Community Scientist Advocate (CSA) program trains health leaders to improve research participation among ethnic minorities by increasing knowledge, accessibility, and engagement. We evaluated the extent to which CSA training improved readiness to promote clinical research. In this analysis of data from 103 multiethnic CSAs we assessed (1) preparedness to champion community research engagement; (2) outcomes by ethnicity. CSAs completed online surveys via REDCap at enrollment and post-training. These surveys featured a 12-item scale measuring participants’ self-rated readiness to engage community members in clinical research, with response options ranging from “Not at all prepared” to "Well prepared.” Paired t-tests and linear regressions were performed. The findings showed a significant increase (mean difference = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.452-0.681), indicating overall improvement following training. All 12 items showed statistically significant score increases, with the most improvements (p<.001) seen in: “Searching for clinical studies” (mean difference= 0.68); “Increase willingness to participate in clinical study” (mean difference= 0.63); and “Educating others on clinical and biospecimen research,” including “Describing benefits of clinical research,” and “Providing navigation or referral assistance,” (mean difference= 0.64). Significant preparedness change scores were also observed among ethnic groups: Latino/Hispanic (mean difference = 0.73, p< 0.001), Asian (mean difference = 0.39, p< 0.002), and Black/African American (mean difference = 0.47, p= 0.002). The multivariate model included baseline preparedness, number of of CSA sessions attended, prior experience participating in research studies, and knowledge of clinical study processes as predictors, and demographic variables (i.e., age, gender, ethnicity, profession) as covariates. Higher baseline preparedness (β = 0.26, p < 0.001, 95% CI = 0.11-0.40) and more CSA-session attended (β = 0.91, p = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.05-1.8) were associated with higher post-training scores, while age (β = -0.12, SE = 0.09, p < 0.001, 95% CI = -0.19 - -0.05) was associated with lower post-training scores. Belonging to ethnic groups such as Black/African American (β = 0.41, p = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.36-7.8) and Latino/Hispanic (β = 2.5, p = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.26-0.48) was significantly associated with higher post-training preparedness scores. Our results suggest utility and efficacy in the CSA Program. Importantly, the results indicate that multisectoral and multiethnic engagement to increase public awareness and advocacy provides impactful solution-focused strategies to remedy the persistent challenge of inadequate diversity in clinical studies. Kimling T. Ashing, Virginia Savage, Gaole Song, Jasmine Ortiz, Diana Tam, Brenda Gascon, Sophia Yeung. Evaluating a community-centered training program to strengthen advocates’ readiness to promote clinical research participation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 19th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2026 Oct 18-21; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2026;35(10 Suppl):Abstract nr C027.