Faith based approach to reduce colorectal cancer disparities: Community based participatory research in action.

B40

Background Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death and the third most common cause of overall premature death in the United States. Despite its high mortality rate, colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable cancers. In 2003, only 44% of people 50 and older had ever had a colorectal endoscopy, including 30% of Hispanics, 38% of Blacks, and 46% of Whites. In South Carolina colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed form of cancer and the second leading cause death after lung cancer. African Americans also carry the greater burden of colorectal cancer mortality compared to European American. Increasing awareness of information about colorectal cancer screening and the availability of screening opportunities and sites in the state are important to reduce the disparity.Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) has increasingly become a potential solution to researching and addressing some of the countries most complex health problems, especially those that plague disenfranchised, communities of color. The aim of this to study is to describe the importance of the Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach in increasing the amount of African Americans that obtain colorectal cancer screenings that could lead to a reduction in cancer disparities in South Carolina. Methods For the purposes of this study prior relationships and collaborations through the Carolina Community Based Health Support Network Inc. was the recruitment mechanism that identified twenty-four African American churches within six counties in rural South Carolina. Major components of this program included: conducting colorectal cancer education, training, and screening sessions by community advocates; encouraging church attendees to receive a colonoscopy screening procedure; and to develop a culturally and linguistically appropriate educational tool for colorectal cancer training. Data for the present study were obtained from the medical records generated for each church attendee that volunteered to participate in the program. African American participants age 30-89 were included in the study sample. Results Polyps were detected in most of the study participants at (66%) more than half of the United States national average at 21% for precancerous polyps. A variety of polyps were observed in the sample population including tubular adenoma (23%), hyperplasic (22%), polypoid (10%). Conclusion Challenges for the future of increasing colorectal cancer screenings is encouraging health insurance companies to pay for colorectal cancer screenings. Creating public awareness and increasing education for colorectal cancer in South Carolina is a necessity to eliminate health disparities.