Abstract B17: Effects of promotores-led small-group education on colorectal cancer knowledge among underserved Hispanics
Authors: Briant Katherine J. , Sanchez Janet , Escareno Monica , Gonzalez Virginia , Thompson Beti 
Published: February 2019

Background: Great strides in cancer prevention and early detection have led to a decrease in colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality (Zauber, 2015). Nevertheless, CRC continues to be a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women aged 50 and older in the US and Washington State (WA) (ACS, 2013; WA DOH, 2013). CRC disparities also continue to persist with regard to access to timely and effective cancer education and screening among minority and underserved populations (CDC, 2013; Tammana, 2014). The lower Yakima Valley of WA is a very rural, poor, and medically underserved area where a high proportion of Hispanics reside. Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System demonstrate that CRC screening rates in Yakima (79.87%), Franklin (75.03%), and Benton counties (79.46%) are lower than the WA screening rate (81.25%) (WA DOH, 2014). Thus, CRC screening promotion efforts in the lower Yakima Valley are of high importance. In this study, we used promotores to deliver the Colorectal Cancer 101 curriculum at “home health parties.” The aim of this study was to assess changes in CRC knowledge and intent to screen for CRC among Hispanics in the Yakima Valley.

Methods: A pre- and post-test study design was used to assess changes in knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs around CRC and screening at baseline and at 3-month follow-up after receipt of a promotores-led home-based educational intervention. We recruited participants at local community events, through flyers, and snowball sampling. CRC home health parties were conducted in English and Spanish by bilingual-trained promotores between March and September 2012.

Results: A total of 129 participants completed a pre/post assessment. Majority of participants were Hispanic (98.4%), female (73.4%), and had less than a high school education (86.0%). Although 72.1% had a regular doctor and 95.3% had a regular health clinic, only 50% reported having health insurance. Preliminary results show that at baseline, less than 40% of the participants reported having a physician recommend and discuss CRC screening, while 54.4% indicated thinking about going to a physician or clinic to receive CRC screening. Overall, 62% of the respondents stated having heard of the stool test, 55% had received a stool test in the past, and 63% reported considering obtaining a stool test within the next three months. Approximately 62% had heard of a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy; 37.4% had received such a test in the past and 36% were considering obtaining a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy within the next three months. At baseline, participants reported intent to discuss CRC screening with others (family members = 34.4%; friends = 40.3%).

Conclusion: We hypothesize that using promotores to deliver CRC information: 1) is a culturally relevant way to increase knowledge about CRC and awareness of CRC screening, and 2) will result in increased intention to talk to others about CRC. Pre/post-test comparisons regarding CRC knowledge, intention to screen, and intention to talk to others about CRC will be presented.

Citation Format: Katherine J. Briant, Janet Sanchez, Monica Escareno, Virginia Gonzalez, Beti Thompson. Effects of promotores-led small-group education on colorectal cancer knowledge among underserved Hispanics [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr B17.