Culturally-adapted survey to assess knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs on cancer screening and prevention among Filipinos in Cedars-Sinai Cancer's (CSC) catchment area

Authors: Esmundo, S., Yu-Chen, L., Finster, L., Jeon, C., Haile, R, Surani, Z

Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication
Conference Year: 2020

Abstract Body:
We aim to assess the knowledge and behaviors of the Filipino community on cancer prevention and screening. Filipino Americans are an understudied population, and we are identifying factors that characterize and influence their cancer burden. Methods: A survey was IRB approved and used to collect 500 responses from Filipino participants in 2018. Upon feedback from our community advisory board, including Filipino nurses at Cedars-Sinai, and community members, gaps in the questionnaire were identified, and we further tailored our survey and recruitment. This new survey was administered in Filipino churches, where there is high attendance. Eligible participants were ages 18 and over, reside in California, and identify as Filipino. A total of 82 participants completed the revised Filipino survey and it is still ongoing. Results: Forty-nine percent of our participants were under the age of 50 and 70% were female. Majority of participants go to either their doctors office (20%) or the internet (45%) to look for health information. Among female participants who were eligible for breast and cervical cancer screening, compliance was 62% and 61%. When looking at colon cancer screening among age-eligible males and females, only 50% had ever received a colonoscopy or a stool-based test, well below the national target. Twenty-two participants told us that "wanting to stay healthy" is motivation to get cancer screening, followed by 15"knowing cancer screening is covered by insurance", and 14 "wanting to do it for their family". Conclusion: Filipinos are the second largest Asian American group in Los Angeles, and are experiencing a notable increase in breast, uterine, prostate, kidney, colorectal, and thyroid cancers. Of the screenable cancers, we have identified a lack of compliance in breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings. This finding is consistent with the national trend of Filipino Americans underutilizing life-saving screening tests for cancer, resulting in late stage of diagnosis and poor survival. The Filipino survey is an ongoing initiative implemented in collaboration with a community advisory board, to inform community outreach and engagement and the development of culturally-tailored interventions in CSC's catchment area and beyond

Keywords: Asian, Filipino, Survey, Disparities