Developing a Culturally Tailored COVID-19 Educational Website for Latina and Black/African American Breast Cancer Survivors: Findings from a Community-Engaged Study.

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected Latino and Black/African American communities, exacerbating health disparities and disrupting cancer care. COVID-19 vaccine uptake was limited due to systemic mistrust, safety concerns, and misinformation. Breast cancer survivors undergoing treatment faced additional uncertainty regarding vaccination. This study describes the community-engaged process used to develop a culturally tailored, bilingual COVID-19 educational website for Black/African American and Latina breast cancer survivors.

METHODS

Between January and March 2021, we conducted formative research with two community-based organizations. Eligible participants were Black/African American or Latina breast cancer survivors. Participants completed surveys assessing sociodemographic, clinical characteristics, followed by optional interviews exploring vaccine perceptions and information sources. Survey data were used descriptively to characterize the sample; this paper reports primarily on the qualitative interview data, which were analyzed thematically. Findings, combined with community partner input, informed website development.

RESULTS

Forty survivors participated (70% Latina; 30% Black/African American; mean age = 52.2 years). While participants demonstrated knowledge of COVID-19 transmission and prevention, vaccine hesitancy was influenced by safety concerns, mistrust of government and healthcare systems, misinformation, and logistical barriers (e.g., accessibility to vaccination sites, and registration challenges). Facilitators included trusted healthcare providers, peer testimonials, and culturally relevant outreach. Participants emphasized the need for centralized, bilingual, accessible information, which guided development of a website featuring educational content, survivor stories, and interactive resources.

CONCLUSION

Culturally tailored, community-informed digital interventions may help address health disparities and build trust in healthcare communication. Future research should evaluate the website's impact on vaccine knowledge, confidence, and uptake. This study offers a replicable, community-engaged developmental framework for designing digital interventions with populations that face barriers to care.