GIM Assistant Professor of Medicine, Nia S. Mitchell, MD, MPH, is the Principal Investigator on a new research project funded by the Duke Cancer Institute. The project is entitled Feasibility and acceptability of a community-based weight loss program among African American breast cancer survivors and the total funding is $48,266.
"This is such an important project because it will address health disparities among African American breast cancer survivors – higher rates of excess weight and worse breast cancer and cardiovascular outcomes," says Mitchell. "I am also very excited to work with Sisters Network Triangle North Carolina, the Raleigh/Durham affiliate chapter of Sisters Network, a national African American breast cancer survivorship organization."
"This is such an important project because it will address health disparities among African American breast cancer survivors."
- Nia S. Mitchell, MD, MPH - GIM Assistant Professor of Medicine
Project Team:
Principal Investigator: Nia S. Mitchell, MD, MPH
Co-Investigators: Lola Fayanju, MD, MA, MPHS, FACS, Leah Zullig, PhD, Valarie Worthy, MSN, RN, Laura Wickwar, M. Ed., Laura Fish, PhD
Project Summary:
This project has two aims:
- Aim 1: Examine the feasibility and acceptability of a national, low-cost, community-based, peer-led, weight loss program (Take Off Pounds Sensibly, TOPS) for overweight and obese African American breast cancer survivors in the local chapter of a national African American breast cancer support group (Sisters Network Triangle North Carolina, SNTNC).
- Aim 2: Assess the weight change of overweight and obese African American breast cancer survivors after 6 months in the TOPS program to gather data for sample size calculations for a future RCT.
To achieve these aims, the study team will use both qualitative and quantitative methods to measure the feasibility and acceptability of the TOPS program among African American breast cancer survivors. Qualitative methods will collect data about participants’ perceptions of the TOPS program and suggestions for modification to the program to make it relevant to them