Abstract C105: Addressing stomach cancer disparities in low-income New York City Chinese American immigrants: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Abstract Background Stomach cancer is the most common infection-related cancer worldwide. In the United States, Chinese Americans, especially recent immigrants, experience a disproportionate burden of stomach cancer incidence and mortality. Infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) is the strongest risk factor for stomach cancer. However, adherence to the complex H. pylori treatment regimen is challenging for Chinese New Yorkers with limited English proficiency (LEP) and low health literacy. By linking bilingual/bicultural community health workers (CHWs) to Chinese-speaking patients in clinical settings – the first intervention of its kind that targets this at-risk population – we aim to help participants facilitate H. pylori eradication and stomach cancer prevention. Objective We seek to implement and assess the efficacy of a patient-centered, culturally-adapted and in-language intervention to reduce stomach cancer risk factors for at-risk Chinese American immigrants in NYC. Methods We conducted a multiyear, 2-arm RCT (n=135). Participants randomized to the intervention group were paired with a bilingual/bicultural CHW for 6 months and received a standardized protocol consisting of culturally and linguistically-adapted educational sessions, goal-setting and action planning. Data collection methods include: 1) Baseline, 2-month and 6-month surveys; 2) interviews with intervention group participants; and 3) encounter reports. Clinical outcomes were confirmed through chart review. Results Participants in the RCT were predominantly LEP, low-income Chinese immigrants with low health literacy and limited knowledge of H. pylori and stomach cancer risk factors. We will share the primary and secondary study outcomes of H. pylori eradication, medication adherence, self-efficacy, and health literacy. Our results will be supplemented with qualitative findings from the encounter reports detailing participant barriers and facilitators to medication adherence, goal-setting and behavior change. Citation Format: Simona Kwon, Yi-Ling Tan, Suzanne Vang, Angel Mui, Janet Pan, Stella Chong, Laura Wyatt, Qiuqu Zhao, Renee Williams, Patrick Xiao, Anju Malieckal, Zoi Gamagaris, Chau Trinh-Shevrin. Addressing stomach cancer disparities in low-income New York City Chinese American immigrants: A randomized controlled trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C105.