147876 Lay health workers increase colorectal cancer screening among Chinese Americans: A pilot study

Monday, November 5, 2007

Cindy Qiu-Lan Liang, BA , NICOS Chinese Health Coalition, San Francisco, CA
Lei-Chun Fung, MPH, MSW , Health Education Department, Chinatown Public Health Center, San Francisco, CA
Tung Nguyen, MD , Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Thoa Nguyen , Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Mary Beth Love, PhD , Department of Health Education, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
Kent Woo, MSW , NICOS Chinese Health Coalition, San Francisco, CA
Ching Wong, BA , Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Cindy Tsai, BA , Health Education, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer among Chinese Americans. Although colorectal cancer screening reduces mortality, screening rates among Chinese Americans are low.

METHOD: A community-based organization collaborated with academic researchers to design and implement a lay health worker (LHW) intervention project for Chinese Americans men and women age 50 years and older in San Francisco, California. Eight LHWs were recruited and trained about colorectal cancer and its screening, recruitment techniques, and presentation skills. The LHWs recruited participants from their social network, organized small discussion groups, and used culturally tailored materials to raise participants' awareness about colon cancer, Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy. All participants answered a pre- and post-intervention survey 6 months apart.

RESULTS: The average age among the 81 participants was 62.7 years, and 71.6% were women. Most (80.2%) spoke English poorly. Among the 77 participants who completed the project, there was a statistically significant increase in knowledge scores in the following areas of cancer: knowledge of colon cancer, colon polyp, FOBT, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy and causes of colon cancer such as increasing age and heredity (all p<0.0001). The intervention also increased the participant's first receipt of FOBT (8.6% to 59.7%, p<0.0001) and intention to obtain a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy (38.1% to 60.4%, p=0.052). In addition, 67.6% of the participants reported that they had talked to 3 or more other people about colon cancer.

CONCLUSION: Lay health worker outreach is feasible and effective in promoting colorectal cancer screening among Chinese American men and women.

Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this session, the participants will: 1. Know that colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer among Chinese American men and women. 2. Understand the design of a Lay Health Worker (LHW) program 3. Understand the impact of LHW to promote colon cancer screening among Chinese American women and men. 4. Understand the development of a partnership between community based organization (CBO) and researchers to promote colon cancer screening among Chinese Americans.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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