Disparities in Cervical Cancer Among LHS+ Women: A Primer for Medical Students

Latina, Latino, Latinx, Latine, Hispanic, or of Spanish origin+ (LHS+) women face higher cervical cancer risks, incidence, and mortality compared to non-Hispanic White women. These disparities are attributable to socioeconomic factors, limited access to health care, language and cultural barriers, and negative health care experiences.

We used the Kern model to design, implement, and evaluate a workshop to educate medical students and health care professionals on cervical cancer disparities among LHS+ women and culturally competent communication skills. The workshop included a 60-minute session featuring a PowerPoint presentation, video, and case discussions.

We conducted the workshop four times, both in person and virtually. We administered pre- and posttests to 46 participants, including medical students and health care professionals. Only 39 participants completed both forms, yielding an 85% response rate. Analysis using the related-samples Wilcoxon signed rank test on responses revealed a significant increase in confidence for each learning objective (p < .01). Participants rated the workshop as very good or excellent, and their feedback highlighted the value of interactive activities like the video and case discussions.

Increasing health care providers' awareness of and knowledge about cervical cancer disparities in LHS+ women is essential to improve health care experiences and outcomes. Future workshops should incorporate culturally specific materials for different Spanish-speaking nationalities (e.g., Dominican, Mexican, etc.), medical Spanish training, and cervical cancer education for LGBTQ+ LHS+ women.