# Faith-Based African American cancer Survivorship Storytelling: A culturally relevant intervention to alleviate psychological stress.

> **NIH NIH R03** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $78,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 In this study, we plan to develop a culturally relevant supportive care intervention to
alleviate high levels of psychological distress experienced among newly diagnosed African
American cancer patients and their family caregivers (FCG’s). Storytelling Interventions have
been used to promote cancer screening, adherence to follow-up care, and self-care with chronic
illness. Interventions that incorporate religious beliefs and spirituality are also emerging and
used among African Americans and cancer patients to improve healthy lifestyles (weight loss
and healthy eating) and quality of life and end of life experiences among patients and
caregivers. However, storytelling and faith-based interventions have not incorporated the rich
African American cultural history of turning to the narratives in religious songs to alleviate fears
associated with life-threatening illness. Storytelling and faith-based interventions have been
shown to promote health outcomes, however, the benefit of combining this rich cultural heritage
of storytelling with religious songs and text into interventions has yet to be rigorously evaluated.
 In the proposed study, we will develop the Faith-Based African American Cancer
Survivorship Storytelling Intervention, which is theory-driven, narrative based, and uses a
multimedia platform to incorporate religious songs and text into a series of cancer survivorship
stories. In our preliminary work, African American cancer survivors were interviewed to capture
stories about a stressful diagnosis and treatment, the faith-based coping strategies used, and
health outcomes experienced. The PI’s research team has coded this data and identified
themes that represent the faith-based coping strategies. In the proposed study, we are
requesting support to complete Steps 3 and 4 of this process. In Step 3, concepts from Stress
and Coping Theory will guide the process of selecting those video-recorded narratives for
professional editing. In Step 4, concepts from Transportation Theory will guide our evaluation of
the video recorded narratives for usability and pilot testing for transportation (identification,
narrative engagement, and emotional response). Thus, the final product of this study will be
those narratives most likely to influence positive affective and behavioral changes among the
target population. This pragmatic intervention might be tested in other populations but also
readily integrated into healthcare, community, and faith-based settings.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10023941
- **Project number:** 5R03MD013509-02
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jill B Hamilton
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $78,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-24 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10023941

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10023941, Faith-Based African American cancer Survivorship Storytelling: A culturally relevant intervention to alleviate psychological stress. (5R03MD013509-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10023941. Licensed CC0.

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