Acceptability and Preliminary Impact of a Cancer-Focused Communication and Community Engagement Training Program for Investigators

The Wilmot Cancer Institute (Wilmot), an NCI-designated cancer center, developed a cancer-focused training program to enhance investigators' communication skills, as well as their knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding community engagement. The program was delivered in person over a single day, totaling 4.5 h. It consisted of four didactic sessions: (1) an overview of the Wilmot COE Office and its catchment area, (2) identifying the audience and tailoring messages accordingly, (3) developing communication products, and (4) the fundamentals of verbal communication and best practices for public speaking. Following these didactic sessions, a population scientist presented examples community-engaged research. Finally, investigators participated in a 60-minute practice session with community members. A total of 13 investigators (4 were basic scientists and 9 were population scientists) attended the training. Investigators completed pre- and post-training assessments. Investigators reported high satisfaction with the training and a strong willingness to recommend it. Comparisons of pre- and post-training responses showed increases for knowledge of the Wilmot COE Office and its catchment area, as well as their perceptions and attitudes toward community engagement in research. A cancer-focused training program designed to enhance investigators' communication skills, as well as their knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding community engagement, is acceptable and shows a promising preliminary impact. Additional research is needed to determine the long-term impact on actual community engagement and its contribution to informing cancer research and control efforts that are especially relevant to the population served.