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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Elisa Tong, MD¹, Tung Nguyen, MD¹, Edward Chow, MD², Justin Quock, MD², Alexander Li, MD³, James Yan, DO², and Steve McPhee, MD¹. (1) Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Box 1390, 530 Parnassus Ave, Suite 366, San Francisco, CA 94404-1390, 415-719-0136, elisa.tong@ucsf.edu, (2) Chinese Community Health Care Association, 170 Columbus Ave, Suite 210, San Francisco, CA 94133, (3) Chinatown Public Health Center, 1490 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94133

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer for Chinese Americans. Colorectal cancer screening has been demonstrated to reduce mortality but, in San Francisco, California, colon cancer is diagnosed at later stages among Asian Americans (65%) than among non-Hispanic whites (54%). Our objective was to evaluate whether a seminar for physicians serving a Chinese American community would increase their knowledge of colorectal cancer screening. METHODS: Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco collaborated with San Francisco's Chinese Community Health Care Association and Chinatown Public Health Center to organize a 1.5-hour Continuing Medical Education seminar. Community physicians answered a questionnaire before and after the seminar to assess changes in their knowledge about colorectal cancer epidemiology, procedures for screening, and recommendations for screening intervals. RESULTS: 53 community physicians responded to the survey. There were significant increases in the knowledge that colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of U.S. cancer deaths and the second most common cancer for Chinese Americans. Providers also improved their knowledge of the correct time intervals for screening. Almost all of the physicians knew the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer and how to conduct and follow-up a fecal occult blood test. CONCLUSIONS There were low baseline levels of knowledge about colorectal cancer epidemiology and screening intervals, but a seminar format was effective in increasing knowledge. Changes in community-based provider knowledge may help improve colorectal cancer screening for Chinese Americans. (Funded by the Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research, and Trainingxs Community Network Program.)

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the features of an academic and community-based collaboration for increasing cancer screening in Chinese Americans
• Identify the areas of knowledge in colorectal cancer screening that improved from the intervention
• Recognize that seminars targeting community-based physicians may be effective in improving cancer screening in API communities

Keywords: Asian Americans, Community-Based Partnership

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered