Abstract A37: Outcomes of a Randomized Community Trial to Increase Pap Testing among Pacific Islanders in Southern California

Abstract

Abstract Background: Pap tests comprise an essential cervical cancer prevention and detection method for women in the U.S. Unfortunately, the Pap test remains significantly underutilized among many ethnic/racial groups, particularly Pacific Islanders (PIs) who have low rates of Pap testing and high rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality. Methods: A randomized community trial tested the efficacy of a social support-informed culturally developed intervention on increasing Pap testing among Chamorro, Samoan and Tongan women in Southern California. Using community-based participatory research (CBPR), Pacific Islander women and their husbands/partners were recruited from social organizations (churches and clans) that had been randomly assigned to receive the intervention or control education. Three waves (pretest, posttest and 6-month follow-up) of data collection included demographics, cervical cancer beliefs, social support between women and their husbands/partners, and Pap test attitudes and behaviors. Results: CBPR recruitment resulted in a total of 81 social organizations recruited that included n=575 Pacific Islander women and n=461 husbands/partners. Significant differences between groups at baseline included acculturation and health insurance coverage. Six month follow-up found that all women from baseline significantly increased knowledge and decreased fatalistic attitudes towards Pap testing. Women who were not adherent to Pap test guidelines in the intervention group had significantly higher rates of Pap testing compared to controls at six month follow-up. No differences were found in either women's perceived social support nor men's provision of social support for Pap testing. Conclusion: CBPR-informed behavioral interventions can increase cervical cancer screening in Pacific Islander women. Although social support did not mediate the relationship between women's knowledge and behavior, it did inform the development of a culturally tailored intervention for Chamorro, Samoan and Tongan women. Future studies can build upon these results by addressing other early detection (e.g., mammograms, colorectal exams, etc) and prevention (e.g., HPV vaccination) in these and other disparity populations. Citation Format: Sora Park Tanjasiri, Jie W. Weiss, Michele Mouttapa, Lola Sablan Santos. Outcomes of a Randomized Community Trial to Increase Pap Testing among Pacific Islanders in Southern California. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Ninth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2016 Sep 25-28; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A37.