George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences Washington, DC
Katherine Rangoussis, BS, MS1, Ivan Berezowski, MD2, Maanvi Vij, BS1, Valerie S. Stark, MD, MPH3, Susie J. Park, MD1, Mrudula Bandaru, MD3, Kris Kokoneshi, BA4, Lucas Miecho. Heilbroner, BA1, Athanasios S. Naum, BS1, Omar K. Abu-Ghannam, BS1, Maxwell S. Madani, BA1, Abdelrhman Refaey, MD5, Ahmed Ebeid, MD6, Pavan Vemulakonda, MD1, Laxmikausthubha Yaratha, MD1, Zeina Bani Hani, MBBS1, Liza Khutsishvili, BS7, Simran Gupta, MD5, Romy Chamoun, MD1, Marie L. Borum, MD, EdD, MPH, FACG5 1George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC; 2George Washington University Hospital, Vienna, VA; 3Department of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC; 4George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC, DC; 5Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC; 6Department of Medicine, George Washington University Hospital, Washington, DC; 7George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arlington, VA Introduction: In the United States, racial and ethnic minorities have higher colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality and lower screening rates. This is especially true of non-English speakers with CRC screening rate in Spanish-speaking Latinos as low as 32%. In addition, Spanish speakers may have less knowledge about CRC than the general US population.1,2 This survey study evaluated Spanish-speaking immigrants’ knowledge about CRC and screening guidelines. Methods: University health care providers and leadership at an urban community center available to Spanish-speaking immigrants collaborated to organize a health fair focused on increasing CRC awareness. Educational materials about CRC were provided in English and Spanish with Spanish-speaking health providers available to answer questions. Prior to receiving educational material an anonymous survey was administered to determine participant demographics, access to a primary care provider (PCP), knowledge about CRC screening, and personal CRC screening history. After receiving educational material, health fair participants were surveyed about their willingness to undergo CRC screening. Responses were stratified by participants’ primary language and ethnicity. Analysis was performed with Fisher Exact Test and Chi-Square test, with significance set at p< 0.05. Results: All 56 health fair participants completed the anonymous survey. 25 (46.3%) identified as Black, 20 (37%) Hispanic or Latino, 6 (11.1%) white, 1 Asian (1.9%) and 2 (3.7%) did not report race / ethnicity.16 (29.6%) stated that Spanish was their preferred or primary language. Hispanics compared to others were significantly less likely to report knowledge about CRC or screening (p=0.007). 68% of Spanish-speakers and 82% of English speakers reported having a PCP, with no significant difference in PCP access (p=0.4663). Following receipt of educational material, all health fair participants had increased willingness to undergo CRC screening, with no significant difference between Spanish and English-speakers (p=0.457). Discussion: Despite similar PCP access, Spanish-speaking immigrants compared to others had less CRC knowledge and less frequent screening. After receiving educational material, there was increased willingness to consider screening in the majority of individuals participating in the health fair, regardless of primary language. Community outreach, with efforts to employ language inclusivity in educational materials, can be a key component to improving CRC screening rates.
Disclosures: Katherine Rangoussis indicated no relevant financial relationships. Ivan Berezowski indicated no relevant financial relationships. Maanvi Vij indicated no relevant financial relationships. Valerie Stark indicated no relevant financial relationships. Susie Park indicated no relevant financial relationships. Mrudula Bandaru indicated no relevant financial relationships. Kris Kokoneshi indicated no relevant financial relationships. Lucas Heilbroner indicated no relevant financial relationships. Athanasios Naum indicated no relevant financial relationships. Omar Abu-Ghannam indicated no relevant financial relationships. Maxwell Madani indicated no relevant financial relationships. Abdelrhman Refaey indicated no relevant financial relationships. Ahmed Ebeid indicated no relevant financial relationships. Pavan Vemulakonda indicated no relevant financial relationships. Laxmikausthubha Yaratha indicated no relevant financial relationships. Zeina Bani Hani indicated no relevant financial relationships. Liza Khutsishvili indicated no relevant financial relationships. Simran Gupta indicated no relevant financial relationships. Romy Chamoun indicated no relevant financial relationships. Marie Borum indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Katherine Rangoussis, BS, MS1, Ivan Berezowski, MD2, Maanvi Vij, BS1, Valerie S. Stark, MD, MPH3, Susie J. Park, MD1, Mrudula Bandaru, MD3, Kris Kokoneshi, BA4, Lucas Miecho. Heilbroner, BA1, Athanasios S. Naum, BS1, Omar K. Abu-Ghannam, BS1, Maxwell S. Madani, BA1, Abdelrhman Refaey, MD5, Ahmed Ebeid, MD6, Pavan Vemulakonda, MD1, Laxmikausthubha Yaratha, MD1, Zeina Bani Hani, MBBS1, Liza Khutsishvili, BS7, Simran Gupta, MD5, Romy Chamoun, MD1, Marie L. Borum, MD, EdD, MPH, FACG5. P2646 - Improving Knowledge of Colon Cancer and Prevention in Spanish-Speaking Immigrants, ACG 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Phoenix, AZ: American College of Gastroenterology.
