Abstract B026: Barriers and facilitators to Helicobacter pylori screening and treatment to prevent stomach cancer among Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese American communities
Authors: Morey Brittany N. , Lee Grace E. , Tran Tin Q. , Chang Derek , Lee Julienne , Mai Nancy , Min Sanga , Nguyen Tami C. , Park Hye Won , Wang Qin , Lee Sunmin 
Published: January 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese (CKV) community members’ knowledge, practices, barriers, and facilitators regarding Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) testing and treatment. CKV persons in the United States (US), especially those who are foreign-born, have higher prevalence of H. pylori infection, which contributes to relatively high rates of stomach cancer. This pilot study aimed to inform a future intervention that would test for and treat H. pylori among at-risk CKV communities as a means of early stomach cancer prevention. Methods: Researchers conducted a survey and 15 focus groups for a total of n=90 voluntary participants (n=29 for Chinese, n=30 for Korean, and n=31 for Vietnamese) living in the southern California region. The survey and focus groups were conducted both online and in-person in Mandarin, Korean, and Vietnamese languages. The survey included demographic and socioeconomic questions, as well as measures of participant knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about H. pylori infection, prevention, and treatment. The focus group guide was informed by the Health Belief Model to evaluate participants’ perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, self-efficacy, and cues to action for H. pylori testing and treatment. Results: CKV participants varied in their level of knowledge about H. pylori, but most expressed little awareness of H. pylori and the associated risks. Focus groups revealed that community members were mostly unaware of high susceptibility to H. pylori among CKV people. Nevertheless, CKV community members believed that H. pylori and stomach cancer to be serious health issues. Most CKV community members cited lack of awareness as a major barrier to getting tested for H. pylori. However, groups differed in their opinions on barriers to treatment. While Chinese and Korean groups mostly agreed that a physicians’ diagnosis and recommendation would facilitate completing the H. pylori treatment regimen for their communities, Vietnamese groups noted greater levels of medical. Vietnamese groups expressed some uncertainty about antibiotics and medications that would cause potentially harmful side-effects. To various extents, CKV groups noted that increasing awareness about H. pylori through community-based initiatives utilizing sources of trusted information, respected community leaders, and online and in-person social networks would be effective strategies for increasing testing and treatment. Conclusion: Community-based initiatives to increase H. pylori testing and treatment may be useful for stomach cancer prevention among at-risk CKV populations. This study provides needed insights into what types of content these initiatives might include and how to provide information in a way that is culturally relevant to the needs of CKV communities. There are different barriers and facilitators to testing and treatment for H. pylori among CKV community members. Interventionists must keep these nuances in mind and tailor their approaches appropriately.

Citation Format: Brittany N. Morey, Grace E. Lee, Tin Q. Tran, Derek Chang, Julienne Lee, Nancy Mai, Sanga Min, Tami C. Nguyen, Hye Won Park, Qin Wang, Sunmin Lee. Barriers and facilitators to Helicobacter pylori screening and treatment to prevent stomach cancer among Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese American communities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B026.