S622 Improving Knowledge of Colon Cancer and Prevention in Spanish-Speaking Immigrants

Introduction: In the United States, racial and ethnic minorities have higher colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality and lower screening rates. This is especially true of non-English speakers with CRC screening rate in Spanish-speaking Latinos as low as 32%. In addition, Spanish speakers may have less knowledge about CRC than the general US population. This survey study evaluated Spanish-speaking immigrants’ knowledge about CRC and screening guidelines. Methods: University health care providers and leadership at an urban community center available to Spanish-speaking immigrants collaborated to organize a health fair focused on increasing CRC awareness. Educational materials about CRC were provided in English and Spanish with Spanish-speaking health providers available to answer questions. Prior to receiving educational material an anonymous survey was administered to determine participant demographics, access to a primary care provider (PCP), knowledge about CRC screening, and personal CRC screening history. After receiving educational material, health fair participants were surveyed about their willingness to undergo CRC screening. Responses were stratified by participants’ primary language and ethnicity. Analysis was performed with Fisher Exact Test and Chi-Square test, with significance set at P < 0.05. Results: All 56 health fair participants completed the anonymous survey. Twenty-five (46.3%) identified as Black, 20 (37%) Hispanic or Latino, 6 (11.1%) White, 1 Asian (1.9%) and 2 (3.7%) did not report race/ethnicity. Sixteen (29.6%) stated that Spanish was their preferred or primary language. Hispanics compared to others were significantly less likely to report knowledge about CRC or screening (P = 0.007). Sixty-eight percent of Spanish-speakers and 82% of English speakers reported having a PCP, with no significant difference in PCP access (P = 0.4663). Following receipt of educational material, all health fair participants had increased willingness to undergo CRC screening, with no significant difference between Spanish and English-speakers (P = 0.457). Conclusion: Despite similar PCP access, Spanish-speaking immigrants compared to others had less CRC knowledge and less frequent screening. After receiving educational material, there was increased willingness to consider screening in the majority of individuals participating in the health fair, regardless of primary language. Community outreach, with efforts to employ language inclusivity in educational materials, can be a key component to improving CRC screening rates.