Advancing health equity in cancer survivorship research: National Institutes of Health 2017–2022 portfolio review

Abstract

Abstract Background Communities and researchers have called for a paradigm shift from describing health disparities to a health equity research agenda that addresses structural drivers. Therefore, we examined whether the cancer survivorship research portfolio has made this shift. Methods We identified grants focused on populations experiencing health disparities from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Cancer Survivorship Research Portfolio (N = 724), Fiscal Years 2017–2022. Grant characteristics were abstracted, drivers of health disparities were mapped onto the levels and domains of influence, and opportunities for future research were identified. Results A total of 147 survivorship grants focused on health disparities were identified, of which 73.5% of grants focused on survivors from racial and ethnic minoritized groups, 25.9% living in rural areas, 24.5% socioeconomically disadvantaged, and 2.7% sexual and gender minority groups. Study designs were 51.0% observational; 82.3% of grants measured or intervened on at least 1 individual-level of influence compared to higher levels of influence (32.7% interpersonal, 41.5% institutional and community, and 12.2% societal). Behavioral and health care system domains of influence were commonly represented, especially at the individual level (47.6% and 36.1%, respectively). Less frequently represented was the physical and built environment (12.2%). Conclusions NIH-funded cancer survivorship research on health disparities is still focused on individual level of influence. However, the proportion of grants examining structural and social drivers as well as the mechanisms that drive disparities in health care and health outcomes among cancer survivors have increased over time. Gaps in funded research on specific populations, cancer types, and focus areas of survivorship science were identified and warrant priority.