DISC Laboratory
The Florida Partnership for Adding Social Context to Address Cancer Survivorship Outcomes (ASCENT)
Contact PI/ Project Leader: Dr. Dejana Braithwaite
Study Overview
High-quality diets are linked to better outcomes for cancer patients, but eating well is often easier said than done. Cancer poses many barriers to healthy eating, from the financial burden of medical bills to the changing nature of nutritional needs throughout treatment. The ASCENT study empowers patients to make healthy choices by providing education, support, and access to nutritious food. The ASCENT study will use a combination of digital tools and patient navigation to connect cancer survivors with the resources they need to access and eat a high-quality diet.
ASCENT is an intervention that combines digital tools and personalized patient navigation to improve diet in cancer survivors. With the help of patients, providers, and community stakeholders, we are developing online surveys and tools to evaluate about patient nutrition (e.g., diet quality and malnutrition) and security. In later phases of our study, trained patient navigators will use patient responses to design personalized care plans, provide nutrition education, and connect participants to community resources. We will determine how this community-based, personalized intervention impacts food security, nutrition, and patients’ confidence in their ability to eat a high-quality diet.
We are actively enrolling patients, clinic champions, and community members to help us transform cancer nutrition.
Contact PI/ Project Lead:
- Dr. Dejana Braithwaite
Co-PI:
- Dr. Tracy Crane
