Abstract B029: Community-based colorectal cancer screening initiative to address colorectal cancer disparities among African Americans and sexual and gender minorities on the Southside of Chicago
Authors: Watson Karriem S , Henderson Vida , Madrigal Jessica , Gonzalez Jeanette , Martinez Erica , Mannan Nasima , Roberson Tonya , Murray Marcus , Tossas-Milligna Katherine , Winn Robert A 
Published: September 2020

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) persists as the second leading cause of cancer death and African Americans (AA) carry a disproportionate burden of CRC, having the highest incidence and mortality. Although CRC is one of the few cancers where screening can be prevention, AAs have lower uptake of CRC screening. Additionally, sexual and gender minorities (LGBTQ) are another population with growing CRC disparities. To date, few initiatives address CRC among LGBTQ populations. Factors impacting screening uptake among AA and LGBTQ populations are multi-factorial including access, awareness, and stigma. To attenuate low rates of CRC screening, the University of Illinois Cancer Center through funding from the Bristol-Myer Squibb Foundation has developed the UI CAAN (Cancer Screening; Access; Awareness; Navigation) Project. UI CAAN is a community focused cancer education, prevention, screening and navigation program aimed at addressing the elevated burden of CRC within the UI Cancer Center catchment population targeting 200 AA per year for three years. Methods Building upon the Center for Disease Control and Prevention socio-ecological model, UI CAAN will address multi-level barriers impacting CRC screening. The American Cancer Society recommends screening starting at age 45 using Fecal immunochemical tests (FITs). Community Lay navigators will work with barber shops, beauty/nail salons and venues frequented by members of the LGBTQ community to provide education and free FIT kits to AA on the Southside of Chicago. Participants who return their FIT kit will be compensated with a $25 Certificate for the barber or beauty salon or $25 gift card for those engaged through community venues. The project will partner with a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) on the Southside of Chicago to support navigation for follow up. Results Year I is devoted to planning, priority setting and community engagement. The key community stakeholder for UI CAAN is Project Brotherhood, a non-profit community based organization with over two decades of successful engagement of AA communities. To date the project has identified a) A community health worker/lay patient navigator from the targeted community; b) identified and trained one barber and one beautician; c) identified and trained a community health psychologist to assist with program design and implementation and d) has identified two Community Health workers from the LGBTQ community in the target area. IRB approval has been obtained. Conclusion Completion of planning and priority setting of the UI CAAN Project to improve CRC screening among AA and LGBTQ populations on the Southside of Chicago demonstrate the feasibility of community engagement to plan and implement a community based CRC screening initiative. Phase II of Year I will begin August 2019 with screening and recruitment from a barber shop, beauty salon and key community events on the Southside of Chicago with navigation to a local FQHC.

Citation Format: Karriem S Watson, Vida Henderson, Jessica Madrigal, Jeanette Gonzalez, Erica Martinez, Nasima Mannan, Tonya Roberson, Marcus Murray, Katherine Tossas-Milligna, Robert A Winn. Community-based colorectal cancer screening initiative to address colorectal cancer disparities among African Americans and sexual and gender minorities on the Southside of Chicago [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr B029.