Primary care physician perceived barriers of cancer screening and perceived cancer risk among Asians

Primary care physicians are a critical source for communicating important cancer screening information and the impact of physician recommendations on cancer screenings is well documented in the literature. Asians, one of the largest and fastest growing minority groups in the United States, experience disproportionate incidence and mortality rates of certain cancers compared to other racial and ethnic groups. This study examined primary care physicians' perceived barriers that Asian patients encounter to get cancer screening and the perceptions of cancer risk in Asians. Primary care physicians practicing in New Jersey and New York City were mailed a 30-item survey on medical practice characteristics, Asian patient communication, screening guidelines, Asian cancer risk, and demographics. A total of 100 surveys were returned. Lack of knowledge, not having health insurance, and language were the top three barriers that physicians believed Asian patients encounter to get cancer screening. System and cultural barriers such as transportation, trust, and screenings against cultural beliefs were the least selected patient barriers to cancer screening as perceived by physicians. Liver cancer and stomach cancer were perceived as higher cancer risks among Asians compared to the general population while breast and prostate cancer were perceived as lower cancer risks. These findings indicate that physician perceptions of Asian cancer risk vary compared to the general population and physicians have a range of perceptions of the barriers that Asian patients encounter when seeking cancer screenings.