# Improving the Assessment of Patient-reported Outcomes among Black/African-American Cancer Patients

> **NIH NIH K01** · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $162,160

## Abstract

Project Summary
Willi L. Tarver is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, College of Medicine at
The Ohio State University. Dr. Tarver is responding to PAR-21-295 to obtain the skills, knowledge and mentored
research experience that are essential for a career as a research scientist focusing on cancer health informatics
and health disparities research. His long-term goal is to build an independent program of research that utilizes
health information technologies to improve cancer care and cancer health equity. The short-term goals for the
award period include: 1) gaining formal training in psychometrics and practical experience with Patient-Reported
Outcomes (PROs) and their assessment in the cancer context, 2) expanding knowledge and skills of Qualitative
and Mixed Methods Research Approaches; 3) gaining formal training in health disparities research, with a focus
on approaches to cancer health disparities studies; and 4) developing leadership skills training for research
scientists, including training in manuscript writing and grantsmanship toward building a presence in his respective
field. Blacks or African-Americans experience a greater cancer burden and poorer health outcomes, and face
more negative social determinants of health (SDH) (e.g., lower socioeconomic status, more barriers to care, etc)
than their non-Hispanic White counterparts. PROs provide additional prognostic information that may lead to
more patient-centered care, improved patient-provider communication, and better clinical outcomes such as
survival. However, studies have shown that Black cancer patients are less likely to complete PROs and more
likely to report difficulty in understanding the wording of PRO questions. Furthermore, adequately assessing
PROs in this population may require the collection of data beyond standard clinical measures, such as SDH.
This proposal is aimed at improving the assessment of patient-reported outcomes among Black cancer patients.
I will conduct qualitative interviews with Black cancer patients to understand the concerns and barriers to (e.g.,
computer literacy, security concerns, etc.) and facilitators of (e.g., education or other assistance) completing
PROs and SDH items. I will also conduct qualitative interviews with cancer care providers to understand their
barriers to and facilitators of the collection of PROs and information about SDH, their information needs, and
their preferences for assessing and using PROs and SDH in providing care for their cancer patients. The
knowledge derived from the interviews of patients and providers will inform the development, refinement, and
implementation of a PRO/SDH tool tailored to the needs and preferences of Black patients and their cancer care
providers. The resulting PRO/SDH tool and delivery approach will undergo feasibility testing and will be adapted
in a manner supportive of provider workflow. The research accomplished during this award period will lay the
f...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10887267
- **Project number:** 1K01CA279492-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Willi L Tarver
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $162,160
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2029-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10887267

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10887267, Improving the Assessment of Patient-reported Outcomes among Black/African-American Cancer Patients (1K01CA279492-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10887267. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*