268618 A gender-based examination of colorectal cancer screening participation among participants in a colon cancer awareness and educational program in two South Carolina counties

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Lauren Workman, BA, MPH, PhD candidate , Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, SC
Heather M. Brandt, PhD, CHES , Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Dawnyea Jackson, PhD candidate , Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Lucy Annang, PhD, MPH , Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, SC
Annette Cook, MPH, CHES , Cancer Prevention & Control Program, University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, SC
Tina Marie Devlin, MPH, CHES, CPT , Student Health Services-Campus Wellness, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Suzanne Swan, PhD , Department of Psychology and Women's & Gender Studies Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Swann Arp Adams, PhD , Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics & College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Michael Wirth, MSPH, PhD , Cancer Prevention & Control Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Thomas G. Hurley, MS , Cancer Prevention & Control Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and deadly types of cancer in the United States. Women are generally more likely to engage in preventive health behaviors; participation in CRC screening is low for both women and men. The purpose of this study was to examine participation in CRC screening by gender after exposure to a CRC educational program. The program was conducted in South Carolina and was designed to increase awareness of and participation in CRC screening. Post-test only data were collected immediately after program exposure. Descriptive and comparative analyses were conducted. Our sample (n=1,436) was 68% female; aged 45 and older (62%); African American (58%), greater than a high school education (68%), and had health insurance (94%). When compared to men, significantly more women reported intentions to engage in CRC screening steps, including intentions to learn more about colon cancer (89%; 94%, respectively; p<0.05). The percentage of women screened for CRC was lower than for men (57%; 59%, respectively), but there were no statistically significant differences. The only type of CRC screening examined for which women had a higher percentage of participation was for fecal occult blood test (FOBT). For all other types of CRC screening, men reported higher levels of participation. Women and men reported participating in CRC screening at similar rates, yet women displayed higher action-oriented intentions. Levels of participation in CRC screening lag far behind screening for other types of cancer. Health promotion interventions are needed to address barriers and increase participation.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1) Discuss gender-based findings related to participation in colorectal cancer screening; and 2) Describe opportunities for targeted intervention reflective of gender to increase participation in colorectal cancer screening.

Keywords: Cancer Screening, Gender

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was a graduate research assistant on this research project. As the lead author of this poster, I coordinated the conceptualization, analysis, and synthesis of this research.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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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