Etiologies of Cancer Screening Disparities Among Minority Patients

Background Disparities in surgical oncology are driven in part by differences in access and utilization. We examined cancer screening behaviors within a community-based outreach model and identified barriers and facilitators influencing participation in an underserved population. Study Design Eight outreach events were conducted within a minority-serving urban environment between September and November 2023. Surveys and focus groups assessed screening behaviors and associated individual and neighborhood characteristics. Results Among 192 participants, median age was 73 years; 83.1% were female and 94.6% Black. Reported screening participation was 96.0% (breast), 83.0% (colorectal), 68.0% (prostate), and 59.5% (cervical). Physician recommendation was the most common source of awareness (58.7%). Cost (66.3%) was the most frequently reported barrier, whereas transportation and mobile services (52.2%) were the most cited facilitators. Female sex ( P = 0.003), education beyond high school ( P = 0.002), and neighborhood location ( P = 0.008) were associated with colorectal screening. Conclusions In this predominantly Black cohort participating in community-based outreach events, self-reported cancer screening participation compared favorably with selected national benchmarks. Physician recommendation, perceived access barriers, and community-level factors were associated with screening behaviors. These findings provide insights into screening participation within an underserved population and may help inform future community-engaged approaches to reducing cancer screening disparities.