Home health parties as a way to reach the hispanic population about colorectal cancer screening

A94

Purpose: The Hispanic population is increasing in the U.S. and, as a group, tends to be underserved in cancer prevention. For example, Hispanics are less likely than non-Hispanic Whites to seek colorectal cancer screening. We used an innovative approach, home health parties, to increase the screening rates of Hispanics in a rural area of Washington State.
 Methods: Using a pre-test, post-test methodology, age-eligible individuals (50-79) were invited to participate in a home health party, a guided discussion intervention held in the home and conducted by a promotora (lay health worker). Interested participants invited family, friends, and relatives to come to the home health party to learn about colorectal cancer and its prevention. Baseline questionnaires asked about colorectal cancer knowledge and prevention practice. A trained promotora led a colorectal cancer discussion and offered assistance in obtaining fecal occult blood tests (FOBT) and flexible sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy. Participants in the home health party were contacted six months later to see if they had received colorectal cancer screening and if their knowledge about colorectal cancer changed.
 Results: A total of 68 age-eligible participants completed the baseline questionnaire and to date, 42 have been followed at six months. The remainder will be followed by November, 2007. Of those followed, 16% have received flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy and 8% have received an FOBT. In addition, there were substantial increases in knowledge about colorectal cancer. More people agreed that finding cancer early could lead to a cure, that finding cancer early can help one live longer, that something can be done about cancer at post-test compared to pre-test. An unexpected result was that participants were assisted in signing up for Washington State’s Basic Health Care Plan, a medical insurance plan for the underserved, leading to about one third fewer people without health insurance than at pre-test.
 Conclusions: Home health parties offer a feasible way to reach the Hispanic population and inform participants about colorectal cancer. Using a promotora to educate and assist participants appears to be an effective way to encourage colorectal cancer screening.