Photovoice: A Needs Assessment of African American Cancer Survivors

Abstract

The goal of this research was to understand the barriers and challenges that African American cancer survivors experience after being diagnosed with cancer. The authors provided 20 cancer survivors and caregivers with cameras to take pictures of their needs right after they were diagnosed with cancer. Most importantly, a major theme that arose from the participants’ responses was the lack of culturally-specific support services located within their neighborhoods. Other needs included lack of social support, a lack of resources related to appearance, a lack of resources for continued care, and especially a lack of support services for children of survivors.

KEYWORDS:

• cancer survivors
• Photovoice
• needs assessment
• low income
• African American

We would like to thank the Lance Armstrong Foundation for providing us with the funding to conduct this research, and we thank the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center for supplemental funding. We received IRB approval for this study. A very special thanks to the Photovoice participants who dedicated their time, effort, and passion to this project; without you this work would not be possible. Furthermore, we acknowledge the hard work of project coordinators Meia Jones and Catherine Oakar and the assistance of Najah Muhammad and Sabina Hossain. Finally, we thank our community partners for their hard work and dedication.