Assessing Knowledge, Physician Interactions and Patient-Reported Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Arab...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.
• The Arab American population is growing, yet research on their CRC knowledge is limited.
• Low screening rates are often linked to insufficient knowledge and awareness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess colorectal cancer (CRC) knowledge and identify screening barriers within the Arab American community.
• To address the gap in research concerning this specific demographic's understanding of CRC.
• To provide healthcare providers with insights into knowledge deficiencies for better patient education.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous survey was administered in English or Arabic to 131 patients from Arab community cancer programs.
• Data collection occurred between February 2016 and June 2017.
• Participants were from the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) in Dearborn, MI.

Main Results:

• Significant knowledge gaps were identified: 70% didn't know what a colon polyp is, and over 89% were unaware of their individual CRC risk.
• 45.8% of participants had never undergone CRC screening.
• Key barriers to screening included cost, lack of health insurance, and insufficient physician recommendations.

Conclusions:

• The Arab American community exhibits notable deficiencies in CRC knowledge and faces significant barriers to screening.
• Healthcare providers and community organizations must address these gaps by combating stigma and misinformation.
• Targeted educational interventions are crucial to improve CRC screening rates and outcomes in this population.