Helping Latina breast cancer survivors

Smart-phone tool aims to help Spanish-speaking patients make lifestyle changes

UC Irvine student Daniela Macias made a poster presentation at the University of California’s prestigious Undergraduate Research Showcase that featured the iTEQC program’s novel outreach tool to help Latina breast cancer survivors.

The showcase, sponsored by the UC Office of the President, was held Feb. 26, 2018 in Sacramento. Each UC campus selected two “student ambassadors” to make presentations.

Macias, whose major is psychology and social behavior, delivered her presentation on the iTEQC outreach project called "Mi Vida, Mi Salud" (My Life, My Health). Her presentation was titled: "Mi Salud, Mi Vida: Examining the Use of a Healthy Lifestyle Self-Discovery Tool for Latina and Non-Hispanic White Breast Cancer Survivors.”

The project, funded by National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute, involves developing a mobile phone application to promote health behavior changes among Latina breast cancer survivors.

The aim is to give these Spanish speakers easy-to-use tools that allow them to record food intake, exercise, fatigue and pain levels, and even sleep patterns, all with an eye toward developing a personalized plan to improve their health.

Macias was mentored by iTEQC co-director and Department of Medicine Associate Professor Dara Sorkin, PhD.

UC Irvine’s second student ambassador was biomedical engineering student Daryl Chau Nguyen, who presented “Finite Element Analysis of Transcatheter Mitral Valve.” Nguyen’s faculty mentor is Biomedical Engineering Professor Arash Kheradvar.

Showcase attendees included state Sen. John M.W. Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) and Assemblymen Steven S. Choi (R-Irvine) and Matthew Harper (R-Huntington Beach).