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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Yvonne N. García-Carreras, MPH, MS, Cynthia Pérez, PhD, MS, and Erick Suárez, PhD, MS. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Puerto Rico, Graduate School of Public Health, P.O. Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067, 787-550-2376, cury3@yahoo.com

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Puerto Rican men (13%) and women (14%). Data from the Puerto Rico Cancer Registry has evidenced a significant (p<0.05) increase in the annual incidence of colorectal cancer in both sexes (4.6%). Despite the effectiveness of screening in reducing colorectal cancer mortality, information regarding the level of participation in fecal occult blood test (FOBT) in the adult population of Puerto Rico is scarce. To estimate the rate of use and identify factors associated with participation in a home-administered FOBT, a multistage, household probability sample of 200 adults aged 40-75 years was designed in the municipality of Barranquitas. All eligible adults were invited to participate in a face-to-face interview and asked to undergo a home-administered FOBT. Of all eligible adults, 68% participated in the interview and FOBT, 25% refused both the interview and FOBT, and 7% participated in the interview but not the FOBT. Having private health insurance significantly increased (Adjusted OR=8.0; 95% CI: 1.2-54.5) the odds of participating in a home-administered FOBT, whereas younger age (40-59 years) marginally decreased (Adjusted OR=0.2; 95% CI: 0.05-1.12) the odds of participating in a home-administered FOBT (p<0.05). The major reason for not undergoing a home-administered FOBT was the lack of physician recommendation (63.8%). Nearly 41% of participants were not aware of the importance of FOBT. These results highlight the need for developing educational strategies targeted to adults over 50 years of age and healthcare providers regarding the public health importance of colorectal cancer screening.

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate the characteristics associated with participation in a home-administered fecal occult blood test in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico.
• Describe the rate of participarion in a home-administered fecal occult blood test, in an adult population (40-75 years) in Barranquitas, a Puerto Rican municipality.
• Identify the factors associated of participation in a home-administered fecal occult blood test.

Keywords: Cancer Screening, Community Participation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered