Advancing Prostate Cancer Equity through Community Engagement: Evidence from the Rcmi Community Engagement Core

Background and Purpose

Black men experience disproportionately higher prostate cancer incidence, later-stage diagnosis, and mortality than any other racial group, reflecting structural inequities in access to care, trust in health systems, and culturally responsive health communication (Lowder et al., 2022). Community-engaged and community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches have shown promise in addressing these inequities, yet empirical evidence demonstrating how institutionalized community engagement models function within social work research remains limited (Wallerstein et al., 2020). This study examines the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Community Engagement Core (CEC) at a Historically Black College or University to assess how a community-driven engagement infrastructure advances prostate cancer knowledge, trust, and screening readiness among Black men.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate community-engaged prostate cancer education initiatives implemented by the RCMI CEC and to examine outcomes related to participant knowledge, screening intentions, and perceptions of trust and relevance.

Methods

This study employed a mixed-methods program evaluation design drawing on data from prostate cancer outreach and education initiatives conducted in 2025. Participants included African American men who attended community-based educational seminars and health outreach events across the south eastern part of the United States, recruited through faith-based organizations, community advocacy groups, and public health partners.

Quantitative data were collected using pre/post knowledge assessments and post-session participant surveys measuring satisfaction, perceived relevance, and intention to discuss prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening with healthcare providers. Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted to summarize outcomes. Qualitative data were obtained through open-ended survey responses and feedback from community partners and Community Advisory Board (CAB) members and analyzed thematically to identify facilitators, barriers, and perceived impact of engagement strategies. Program documentation (attendance records, partnership logs, CAB summaries) was used to assess reach and implementation fidelity.

Results

The RCMI CEC engaged more than 1,000 community members, partnered with over 14 community organizations, and directly educated 139 Black men through prostate cancer seminars. Quantitative findings indicated strong engagement and positive outcomes: 76.2% of participants rated educational sessions as excellent, 85.0% reported intention to discuss PSA screening with a healthcare provider, and 70.8% demonstrated significant prostate cancer knowledge gains.

Qualitative findings highlighted the importance of trusted community messengers, culturally resonant educational materials, and CAB involvement in shaping outreach strategies. Community partners reported increased trust, improved relevance of educational content, and strengthened alignment between research activities and community-identified needs.

Conclusions and Implications

Findings suggest that the RCMI CEC represents a replicable, community-engaged research model that produces measurable improvements in prostate cancer knowledge and screening readiness among Black men. For social work research, embedding advisory governance, prioritizing culturally responsive dissemination, and integrating community-defined outcomes can enhance the rigor, relevance, and equity impact of health disparities studies. This model offers critical implications for social work practice, policy advocacy, and future community-engaged research focused on cancer equity and other health disparities.