Judy Wang, PhD¹, Wenchi Liang, PhD¹, Jennifer Cullen, PhD, MPH¹, Mei-Yuh Chen, MS¹, Shibao Feng, PhD¹, Bin Yi, MS¹, and Jeanne Mandelblatt, MD, MPH². (1) Cancer Control Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 440, Washington, DC 20007, 202-687-6306, jw235@georgetown.edu, (2) Cancer Control Program, Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 317, Washington, DC 20007

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer for Chinese-American women who are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage CRC than white women and women from other minority groups. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of culture and personal attitudes on Chinese women’s CRC screening behavior. Methods: Chinese women aged 50 and older were recruited from Chinese churches and community events in Washington DC. Validated scales were used to measure CRC screening history, cultural views, and attitudinal factors (risk perception and worry) on colorectal cancer. Generalized logit models were used to assess associations between screening outcomes and predictors. Results: 335 eligible women completed telephone interview. 58% of the sample had current CRC screening, defined as having either a fecal occult blood test within 1 year, sigmoidoscopy within 5 years, or colonoscopy within 10 years, 43% of which were routine checkups. 19% had non-current CRC screening (completed beyond these intervals). 23% had never been screened. Women who did not have current CRC screening were more likely to hold a fatalistic view than current screeners, controlling for covariates. Compared to current screeners, women who never had any CRC screening or had non-current tests were less likely to consider themselves as at-risk for CRC (OR 0.72 95%CI 0.53-0.97 and OR 0.67 (0.48-0.93), respectively). Implications: Our preliminary results suggest that cultural and attitudinal factors affect CRC screening. Culturally tailored interventions are needed to enhance Chinese women's participation in CRC screening.

Learning Objectives:

1 Understand Chinese American women’s cultural views and attitudes toward health and cancer and how these views and attitudes influence use of colorectal cancer screening.
• Identify differences in cultural views of health care and attitudes toward colorectal cancer between current screeners and non-current/never screeners.
• Generate a model that illustrates relationships between colorectal cancer screening, cultural and attitudinal factors, and demographic factors (insurance, having school in US, and presence of a regular doctor) for Chinese American women

Keywords: Culture, Cancer Screening

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.