Prostate cancer is the most common noncutaneous malignancy among men and disproportionately affects those with low socioeconomic status, particularly men from racial and ethnic minority populations.
This study describes the development of a culturally tailored Mediterranean diet intervention for medically underserved Black and Hispanic men with prostate cancer, using the Intervention Mapping Adaptation (IM ADAPT) framework.
Conducted at a county safety-net hospital in a large urban area, which serves a population with high medical needs and low socioeconomic status, the project aimed to ensure the intervention was culturally relevant and evidence-based. A collaborative process was used, involving community scientists and patient stakeholders to identify dietary barriers and preferences, while existing interventions were reviewed for cultural fit. Guided by the six steps of the IM ADAPT framework, stakeholder feedback was incorporated throughout the adaptation process. The result was a culturally adapted intervention that included tailored dietary modifications, food provision strategies, and educational materials specifically designed for Black and Hispanic men.
Completion of the IM ADAPT steps yielded a culturally adapted Mediterranean diet intervention incorporating tailored dietary recommendations, provision of food, and distribution of educational materials designed to meet the specific needs of Black and Hispanic men.
The IM ADAPT framework enabled the development of a culturally tailored, evidence-based dietary intervention ready for pilot testing among medically underserved men with prostate cancer. This approach may serve as a replicable model for designing interventions for other racial and ethnic minority populations affected by cancer.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men (excluding skin cancers) and has a greater impact on men with low incomes, especially Black and Hispanic men. These groups often face barriers to healthy eating, which can affect their cancer outcomes. This project created a version of the Mediterranean die (a heart-healthy, plant-forward eating pattern) designed specifically for Black and Hispanic men with prostate cancer who receive care at a county safety-net hospital. The hospital serves people with high medical needs and limited financial resources. To make sure the program was culturally relevant and practical, the team worked closely with community members, patients, and other stakeholders. They discussed challenges to healthy eating, cultural food preferences, and ideas to make the program easier to follow. They also reviewed existing Mediterranean diet programs to adapt them for this population. Following the six steps of the Intervention Mapping Adaptation framework, the team developed a program that included tailored dietary advice, culturally appropriate food options, and educational materials in accessible language. The result is an evidence-based, culturally adapted diet program ready for pilot testing. This approach could be used to design other diet and lifestyle programs for minority populations affected by cancer.
Translational behavioral medicine. 2026 Jan 07 [Epub]
Rebekka S Garcia, Carrie R Daniel, Cindy Hwang, Erma Levy, Matthew Smith, Dalnim Cho, Daniel E Frigo, Andrew W Hahn, Hilary Ma, Margaux Robert, Curtis Pettaway, Brian F Chapin, Denise LaRue, Steven Canfield, Jennifer Wargo, Peng Wei, Lorna McNeill, Justin R Gregg
Department of Urology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States., Harris Health, Houston, TX, United States., Department of Urology, UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United States.