# The Symptom Experience, Management and Outcomes According to Race and Social Determinants of Health (SEMOARS)  during Breast Cancer Chemotherapy

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2021 · $599,261

## Abstract

Project Summary Abstract
Abstract: The Symptom Experience, Management and Outcomes According to Race and Social
Determinants (SEMOARS)
Background: Black women with breast cancer in the United States have a lower 5 year survival than whites
for stage-matched disease. Our past and ongoing work and that of others suggests that symptom incidence,
cancer related distress and ineffective communication contribute to racial disparity in dose reduction and early
therapy termination.
Aims:1) Examine and compare chemotherapy received/chemotherapy prescribed over time and in total of
matched black and white women prescribed BC chemotherapy. 2) Examine and compare the symptom
incidence, distress and management, clinical encounter including patient centeredness of care and
management experience of matched black and white women receiving BC chemotherapy over time. 2a)
Correlate the symptom incidence symptom incidence, distress and management experience of matched black
and white women receiving BC chemotherapy to Aim 1. 3) Explore the effects of social determinants of health
including age, income, education, zip code and lifetime stress exposure on Aims 1, 2 and 3.
Hypothesis: Inherent differences including race and possibly social determinants of health between black and
white women in the experience, perception, communication and outcomes of symptoms during breast cancer
chemotherapy interfere with chemotherapy adherence.
Methods: Longitudinal frequent repeated-measures (18 data collections), comparative, mixed methods
(audiotapes of clinic visits) descriptive design of 179 white and 179 black women from 6 sites at Western
Pennsylvania and Northeast Ohio over the course of chemotherapy.
Innovation: The intense assessment of symptoms, distress and quality of life and the clinical encounter in
multiple repeated measures as compared by race and social determinants of health on the ability to receive full
dose chemotherapy is patient centered and innovative.
Significance/Public Health: If these relationships and racial differences are confirmed and the mediating
factors identified as actionable targets, this information will fill a critical gap in the quality care literature,
advancing the understanding and potential mitigation strategies for the static racial survival disparity in breast
cancer. These identified targets hold implication for public health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10162315
- **Project number:** 5R01MD012245-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Margaret Q. Rosenzweig
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $599,261
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-27 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10162315

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10162315, The Symptom Experience, Management and Outcomes According to Race and Social Determinants of Health (SEMOARS)  during Breast Cancer Chemotherapy (5R01MD012245-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10162315. Licensed CC0.

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