Perspectives on Cancer Screening Among Latino Community Members and Internal Medicine Residents

Publication/Presentation Date

1-2007

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Latinos have lower rates of cancer screening, partially because of cultural beliefs that conflict with those of health care professionals. Moreover, established programs for training physicians in cultural competency often fail to incorporate input from the community.

METHODS: To explore beliefs about cancer and cancer screening among Latino community members and internal medicine residents. Three focus groups of Latino community members (n = 31) and one focus group of internal medicine residents (n = 9) were conducted to compare ideas regarding cancer and cancer screening.

RESULTS: We identified clear disconnects between residents and Latino community members regarding their understandings of cancer, ideas about risk and etiological factors, and barriers to screening. Notably, residents more often spoke of cancer in terms of risk factors, whereas Latinos attributed cancer to life circumstances and experiences.

CONCLUSIONS: The results from these focus groups will inform development of a community-minded cultural competency cancer education training program for medical residents designed to increase screening rates and improve satisfaction with care among Latinos.

Volume

1

Issue

3

First Page

241

Last Page

248

ISSN

1557-0541

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities | Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Latin American Languages and Societies | Medical Sciences | Medical Specialties | Medicine and Health Sciences | Oncology | Public Health

PubMedID

20208286

Department(s)

Department of Medicine, Department of Medicine Faculty

Document Type

Article

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