Abstract B113: Colorectal cancer screening completion rates and barriers to colorectal cancer screening 6 months following participation in CRC screening intervention
Authors: López de la Torre Carolina , JoaDumbauld Jill N. , Haughton Jessica , Barrios Anthony , Rojas Dalia , Díaz Mirna , López José , Milla Maria , Gupta Samir , Nodora Jesse , Ramers Christian , Garcia-Bigley Felipe , Marquez Jessica , Baharti Balambal , Arredondo Elva M. 
Published: August 2020

Background: Though colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates have increased significantly over the past two decades, screening disparities persist among Latinos. To increase CRC screening rates among Latinos, a promotor-led intervention was implemented to provide educational workshops and link community members to screenings through a partnered Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).

Aims: To assess screening completion at 6-months follow-up. To identify barriers influencing adherence to CRC screening among participants who participated in a promotor-led intervention.

Methods: The Juntos Contra el Cáncer/Together Against Cancer (JUNTOS) program was a promotor-led cancer prevention study that provided CRC prevention workshops to adults ages 50 to 75 in a primarily Latino community in San Diego, CA. Based on the Social Ecological Framework, the intervention targeted knowledge of CRC, screening attitudes, social support, screening barriers, and linked participants to community resources. Promotors assisted participants in scheduling appointments, which is the first step in CRC screening at the partnering FQHC. From December 2016 to July 2018, a total of 66 participants who were not up to date with CRC screening attended a 2.5-hour workshop, received follow-up calls from promotors, and completed a 6-month assessment. Demographics, health conditions, CRC knowledge, and attitudes changes towards screening were compared between participants who completed a CRC screening (adherent) and those who did not at 6 months (nonadherent). Chi-squared and t-tests were conducted to assess significant differences among adherent and nonadherent participants. For nonadherent participants, barriers to scheduling an appointment were evaluated.

Results: The sample included 66 Latinos ages 50 to 75 (women=70%). Results from the 6-month follow-up show that 59% participants reported completing CRC screening. Findings show a statistically significant decrease in negative attitudes towards CRC screening from baseline to follow-up (M1=2.88 [SD=.81], M2=2.53 [SD=.85], p&lt;.001). Differences in demographics, health conditions, attitudes towards screening, CRC knowledge, and health behaviors were not statistically significant at baseline between adherent and nonadherent participants at follow-up. The most frequently reported barriers for nonadherent participants to schedule an appointment with their medical provider were being too busy (48%) and not having health insurance (41%).

Conclusions: Preliminary findings suggest that the delivery of the promotor-led intervention improved attitudes of CRC screening and led to increases in self-reported screening rates among nonadherent adults. For uninsured participants, waiving the appointment or providing additional support to navigate the health system may help them complete CRC screening. Overall, these findings build the evidence on the preliminary efficacy of group-based CRC education and linkages to care for nonadherent adults.

Citation Format: Carolina López de la Torre, Jill N. JoaDumbauld, Jessica Haughton, Anthony Barrios, Dalia Rojas, Mirna Díaz, José López, Maria Milla, Samir Gupta, Jesse Nodora, Christian Ramers, Felipe Garcia-Bigley, Jessica Marquez, Balambal Baharti, Elva M. Arredondo. Colorectal cancer screening completion rates and barriers to colorectal cancer screening 6 months following participation in CRC screening intervention [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr B113.