Abstract B79: Assessing colorectal cancer screening behaviors and knowledge among at-risk Hispanics in southern New Mexico.

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality rates in New Mexico have not decreased as much as the US national rates, and mortality rates among Hispanics in the state are higher than among this ethnic group in the US. Methods: A Colorectal Cancer Knowledge Assessment Survey (KAS) was administered in either English or Spanish to 247 individuals attending community events and health fairs throughout southern New Mexico. A subset of these individuals completed an electronic CRC risk assessment managed by National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute (NCI). Data analysis was performed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) to test for significant differences in knowledge, and/or screening rates based on ethnicity. Results: There were significant differences among participants > 50 years old based on ethnicity for knowledge about CRC, physician discussions and recommendations, and screening rates. In all cases, with the exception of knowledge of CRC risk, Hispanics of CRC screening age, were less likely to be recommended for screening by their physician, less likely to discuss CRC screening, knew less about CRC and about the different types of screening modalities, and reported CRC screening in the past at about half the rate of their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Conclusions: The increased mortality rates for New Mexican Hispanics with colorectal cancer are likely due to the very low screening rates, which in turn are related to the lack of knowledge about this condition. Expanded education and outreach efforts for minority populations to increase knowledge and awareness of prevention and screening behaviors is critical. This work was supported in part by the NM AES and by grants NIH NCI 5 U54CA132383 (O'Connell) and NIH NCI 5 U54CA132381 (Thompson). Citation Format: Janet Sanchez, Vanessa Martinez, Beti Thompson, Mary O'Connell. Assessing colorectal cancer screening behaviors and knowledge among at-risk Hispanics in southern New Mexico. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2012 Oct 27-30; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B79.