Kin KeeperSM: Design and baseline characteristics of a community-based randomized controlled trial promoting cancer screening in Black, Latina, and Arab women

Background: Although breast and cervical cancer deaths have declined due to early screening, detection, and more effective treatment, racial and ethnic disparities persist. This paper describes the study design and baseline characteristics of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the effectiveness of the Kin Keepers(SM) Cancer Prevention Intervention, a family-focused educational intervention for underserved women applied in a community-based setting to promote health literacy and screening adherence to address cancer disparities. Methods: Female public health community health workers (CHWs) were trained to administer the intervention. They recruited female clients from their public health program caseload and asked each to assemble two to four adult female family members for the breast and cervical cancer home-based education sessions the CHWs would deliver in English, Spanish or Arabic. We randomized the clients into the kin keeper group (treatment) or the participant client group (control). Results: Complete data were obtained on 514 Black, Latina, and Arab women. Close to half were unemployed and had yearly family income below $20,000. Thirty-four percent had no medical insurance, and 21% had diabetes. Almost 40% had no mammography in the last year. Treatment and control groups were similar on most sociodemographics but showed differences in breast and cervical screening history. Conclusions: This innovative study demonstrates the implementation of an RCT using community-based participatory research, while delivering cancer prevention education across woman's life span with women not connected to the health care system. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.