Etiologies of Cancer Screening Disparities Among Minority Patients

AI Summary

High self-reported screening rates in this predominantly Black, underserved cohort compared favourably with selected national benchmarks.
Physician recommendation was the primary source of awareness and strongly associated with screening uptake.
Cost was the leading barrier; transportation and mobile services were key facilitators; sex, education and neighbourhood influenced colorectal screening.

AI Summary

We examined cancer screening behaviors within a community-based outreach model and identified barriers and facilitators influencing participation in an underserved population.Study DesignEight outreach events were conducted within a minority-serving urban environment between September and November 2023.

Female sex (P = 0.003), education beyond high school (P = 0.002), and neighborhood location (P = 0.008) were associated with colorectal screening.ConclusionsIn this predominantly Black cohort participating in community-based outreach events, self-reported cancer screening participation compared favorably with selected national benchmarks.

These findings provide insights into screening participation within an underserved population and may help inform future community-engaged approaches to reducing cancer screening disparities.

Basic summary

Am Surg. 2026 Jul 26:31348261471486. doi: 10.1177/00031348261471486. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundDisparities in surgical oncology are driven in part by differences in access and utilization. We examined cancer screening behaviors within a community-based outreach model and identified barriers and facilitators influencing participation in an underserved population.Study DesignEight outreach events were conducted within a minority-serving urban environment between September and November 2023. Surveys and focus groups assessed screening behaviors and associated individual and neighborhood characteristics.ResultsAmong 192 participants, median age was 73 years; 83.1% were female and 94.6% Black. Reported screening participation was 96.0% (breast), 83.0% (colorectal), 68.0% (prostate), and 59.5% (cervical). Physician recommendation was the most common source of awareness (58.7%). Cost (66.3%) was the most frequently reported barrier, whereas transportation and mobile services (52.2%) were the most cited facilitators. Female sex (P = 0.003), education beyond high school (P = 0.002), and neighborhood location (P = 0.008) were associated with colorectal screening.ConclusionsIn this predominantly Black cohort participating in community-based outreach events, self-reported cancer screening participation compared favorably with selected national benchmarks. Physician recommendation, perceived access barriers, and community-level factors were associated with screening behaviors. These findings provide insights into screening participation within an underserved population and may help inform future community-engaged approaches to reducing cancer screening disparities.

PMID:42503492 | DOI:10.1177/00031348261471486

Document this CPD