# Improving Routine Asymptomatic Cancer Screening among Federally Qualified Health Center Users in Florida: Application of a Health Literacy Framework

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA · 2021 · $154,620

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
As a recently appointed tenure-track Assistant Professor of Public Health, my long-term career goal is to make
a meaningful contribution to the elimination of cancer disparities. In doing this, I wish to establish myself as a
nationally-recognized independent investigator with expertise in the use of health communication to address
cancer disparities. I have substantial training in behavioral research, primarily focused on understanding the role
of various social and cultural factors on cancer disparities. Building on this foundation, I require additional training
to fill gaps related to the design, implementation, and evaluation of health communication interventions. My
Mentorship Team and I have prepared a comprehensive career development plan that consists of mentorship,
coursework, expert consultations, workshops, experiential learning, and an innovative research project. My
proposed research plan aligns with my overarching career goal in seeking to improve routine cancer screening
within federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), where the burden of cancer is greater compared to the general
population, but screening rates are much lower than national averages. Despite the significant contribution of
routine screening in the reduction of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality,
disparities persist among racial/ethnic minority and low socioeconomic (SES) populations who continue to
underutilize screening. FQHCs can be invaluable partners in reducing these disparities due to their sliding-fee
pay structure and location in medically underserved areas. The goal of the proposed K01 research project is to
understand how current FQHC users perceive routine asymptomatic cancer screening, and develop and pre-
test an eHealth tool that promotes screening among FQHC users. The specific aims are to: (1) Conduct formative
research with FQHC users to understand how they perceive and make decisions about routine asymptomatic
cancer screening; (2) Design and pre-test an eHealth tool that addresses each domain of the health literacy
framework, and incorporates key decision criteria of asymptomatic cancer screening among FQHC users; and
(3) Pilot test an eHealth intervention within an FQHC setting aimed at delivering literacy appropriate, “decision-
relevant” information about routine asymptomatic cancer screening to FQHC users. This Mentored Research
Award would provide the necessary protected time to achieve the following training goals: (1) Develop expertise
in the application of decision analysis to health communication, within a health literacy framework; (2) Become
familiar with clinic operations, user profiles, and service delivery within FQHCs, along with successful research
collaboration with FQHCs; (3) Build competence in health communication intervention design, implementation,
and evaluation; and (4) Develop the necessary skills to translate communication research into practice,
specifically within an FQHC se...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10197843
- **Project number:** 5K01CA226355-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Alicia Lynette Best
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $154,620
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-04-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10197843

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10197843, Improving Routine Asymptomatic Cancer Screening among Federally Qualified Health Center Users in Florida: Application of a Health Literacy Framework (5K01CA226355-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10197843. Licensed CC0.

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