Abstract B029: Photovoice: Through her eyes

Abstract Introduction Equal Hope aims to understand the experiences of women navigating a fragmented medical system to obtain adequate cancer screening and treatment. This project explores patient navigation as an evidenced-based intervention to reduce disparities in care and address the persistent racial and ethnic mortality gap, particularly in breast and cervical cancers. To capture the voices of the women most impacted by these gaps, we implemented photovoice, a community based participatory research method that empowers participants to document and reflect on their experiences through photography. This project's objective was to assess the impact of patient navigation services on access to cancer screening and primary care in Cook and Lake County, Illinois. Methods A qualitative photovoice methodology was used. Eight clients of Equal Hope’s patient navigation program who had been scheduled for screening or diagnostic appointments between March and April 2025 were recruited. Participants were invited to submit 3 – 5 photographs that captured their experiences accessing cancer care. Photo submissions were submitted and followed by a 30-minute semi-structured interview conducted in the participant’s preferred language (English or Spanish). Interviews explored the context of the images, barriers to care, and the role of patient navigators in mitigating these barriers. Transcripts were reviewed and thematically coded to identify common themes. Results Participants average age was 42 years. Services accessed included screening mammograms (25%), diagnostic mammograms (38%), cervical cancer screening (25%), and clinical breast exams (12.5%). About 62% identified as Hispanic, 38% as non-Hispanic Black, and 50% primarily spoke Spanish. The majority resided in Chicago (75%) and 75% received services through the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Programs (IBCCP). Recurring themes that came up from the interviews were navigating a complex healthcare system, difficulty accessing healthcare, and the role of patient navigators in providing emotional support and reassurance. Discussion Patient navigation was identified as a critical factor in overcoming both systemic and individual-level barriers to cancer screening and treatment. These barriers included the cost of healthcare, availability, and transportation. This project suggests that patient navigation, especially when culturally and linguistically tailored, plays a key role in building bridges between underserved communities and lifesaving cancer care services. As healthcare systems strive to close the racial mortality gap, integrating community-informed, narrative-based research approaches such as photovoice can provide powerful insights for shaping equitable and patient-centered interventions. Citation Format: Gabriela A. Pena, Grace Kadubek, Paris Thomas, Sarah Lomahan. Photovoice: Through her eyes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B029.