Latino Peers as Patient Navigators for Colon Cancer Screening

Disparities among racial and ethnic minorities remain prevalent despite advances in medical science that make thes early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer a possibility for all human kind. It is estimated that 90% of colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented through screening. Unfortunately, among Latinos, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death. This rate is influenced by the fact that Latinos have the lowest rates of colorectal cancer screening compared to other US racial groups. Moreover, Latinos are more likely than whites to be diagnosed with advanced-stage colorectal cancer, when treatment options are more limited. Lay health worker interventions for breast and cervical cancer education and screening have demonstrated success in increasing both knowledge and screening rates among racial and ethnic minorities. Additionally, our research has also shown success in training African Americans as peer navigators to increase colorectal cancer screening. Few lay health interventions, however, have been designed specifically for colorectal cancer screening among Latinos. Thus, the purpose of this study is to expand peer navigation for colorectal cancer screening to Latinos and increase their participation in screening by training Latinos, who have had a colonoscopy, to help navigate other Latinos through the colonoscopy screening procedure. This study will focus on expanding the work of our research group by training Latino peers, who are 50 years or older, have had a colonoscopy, and can model successful colonoscopy screening completion to navigate Latino patients for screening. First, a training manual will be developed which will be culturally specific to Latinos. Feedback and input from community members will guide the development of the manual and training program. Second, the training program will be carried out with six bilingual Latino peers, who will be taught to master the core skills of patient navigation for screening colonoscopy. Finally, we will gather preliminary information about the trained peers' ability to successfully navigate patients for colonoscopy screening. If successful, this training program has the potential to increase colonoscopy screening rates of Latinos and will be critical to the development of future large-scale in interventions aimed at reducing advanced stage diagnosis of colorectal cancer and ultimately colorectal cancer deaths among Latinos.

Sex

All

Minimum age

50 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* Referred for a screening or diagnostic colonoscopy by a primary care physician
* 50 years or older
* Identify as Hispanic or Latino
* Provide informed consent in Spanish or English
* Have access to a working telephone

Exclusion Criteria:

* Personal history of colon cancer
* Personal history of any chronic gastrointestinal disorder (i.e., colitis, irritable bowel syndrome)