ONCOLOGY NURSING RESEARCH PRIORITIES FOCUSED ON STRUCTURAL RACISM AND HEALTH EQUITY.

ONCOLOGY Nursing Society; RESEARCH evaluation; HEALTH services accessibility; PRIORITY (Philosophy); HEALTH status indicators; CONFERENCES & conventions; INSTITUTIONAL racism; RACIAL inequality; NURSING research

The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) recognized a need to reaffirm its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. ONS commissioned nurse scientists and experts in equity to update the ONS 2019-2022 research priorities to expand foci addressing structural racism and health inequities in oncology nursing. Disparities persist in cancer screening, incidence, treatment, mortality, and quality of life outcomes between Black and White patients, despite efforts to provide culturally responsive care to all patients. A new approach of examining how oncology nurse scientists can intervene on structural racism to achieve equitable health outcomes for patients is needed. Guided by critical race theory, an ONS appointed rapid response research team discussed the pervasiveness of racism and how it operates in oncology nursing. Personal race consciousness and experiences as people of color and, or individuals working for equity were shared. These conversations were guided by emergent findings from a rapid literature review focused on synthesizing the state of the science on oncology nursing and cancer health disparities. The team generated and disseminated a list of potential research priorities through an ONS nurse researcher database to obtain input via electronic survey. Survey findings were applied to generate key priority research areas and recommendations related to each area. Three key research priority areas were identified including the design and testing of interventions that (1) build trust in cancer research (2) focus on the social determinants of health and (3) use community-based approaches. Several recommendations related to each area will be presented. Application of these research priorities and specific recommendations provide a blueprint for oncology nurse scientists, clinicians, and organizations to intervene on racism and improve health equity for all patients. The rapid response approach was employed by this expert panel and provides a model for organizations to respond to urgent concerns that arise in oncology nursing science and practice. This team was appointed to build upon the 2019-2022 research priorities and expand the priorities related to racial and ethnic diversity in research, studying the social determinants of health, and interventions focused on modifiable behaviors. A second phase of this work focused on recommendations to achieve equity in the oncology nursing workforce and health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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