Abstract 6109: Determinants of generalized self-efficacy and genetic knowledge among Hispanic/Latino colorectal cancer patients participating in ENLACE: A Cancer Moonshot Study
Authors: Mendez Joel Sanchez , Culver Julie O. , Ricker Charité N. , Gutierrez Natalia , Algaze Sandra , Carpten John D. , Lenz Heinz-Josef , Stern Mariana C. 
Published: March 2024

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer, and second cause of cancer death in the United States (US). Among US Hispanic/Latino/a/x (H/L) individuals, CRC represents the second and the third most common cancer and the most common cause of cancer death for men and women, respectively. Despite this, the tumor landscape, and key determinants of outcomes in CRC H/L patients are understudied.

Methods: To address this need, we launched the ENLACE study, to engage H/L CRC patients in germline and somatic sequencing and identify the optimal approaches for patient participation. Through the Center for Patient Engagement in Cancer Characterization Studies (COPECC) patients were recruited from two healthcare facilities: a safety-net hospital (Los Angeles General Medical Center, LA Gen) and the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (Norris) a university medical center. Surveys to assess demographics, acculturation, Latino values, health literacy, discrimination, health system distrust, numeracy, and generalized self-efficacy (GSE) were evaluated upon recruitment, and after return-of-results (ROR) for somatic and germline testing.

Results: After the first year of the project, a total of 100 H/L CRC patients &gt;18 years of age were included in the ENLACE study, 89 participants completed baseline surveys (49 female, median age 53 (IQR = 16) and 21 completed questionnaires after ROR. A majority self-identified as White (61%), Mexico born (51%), catholic (74%), only spoke Spanish at home (35%) and married (49%). Higher levels of GSE were reported in patients with higher scores for numeracy (p = 0.005) and in males when compared to females (p = 0.016). This association was driven by participants from Norris (n=33) as reported by stratified analyses. In contrast, among participants from LA Gen (n=66) we observed an association with higher median values for the Mexican American acculturation scale and mainstream values and a marginally significant increase in the GSE (p = 0.072 & 0.083, respectively). Additionally, LA Gen participants with a greater than the median score for GSE had a marginally significant higher mean score in the KnowGene scale (p = 0.056) with a reduction in the number of times the “Don’t Know” option was selected (p = 0.045). No statistically significant difference in the generalized self-efficacy score and KnowGene scale were reported after reception of results (p = 0.2386 & 0.1337, respectively)

Conclusion: We report differences in GSE and cancer genetic knowledge amongst CRC H/L patients in the ENLACE study that may inform understanding of disparities and social determinants in the populations treated at two different healthcare facilities.

Citation Format: Joel Sanchez Mendez, Julie O. Culver, Charité N. Ricker, Natalia Gutierrez, Sandra Algaze, John D. Carpten, Heinz-Josef Lenz, Mariana C. Stern. Determinants of generalized self-efficacy and genetic knowledge among Hispanic/Latino colorectal cancer patients participating in ENLACE: A Cancer Moonshot Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 6109.