Preliminary findings of cultural health beliefs and practices that shape health literacy and cancer screening behaviors in four populations

B30

BACKGROUND: Too often, people with the greatest health burdens have limited access to health information and limited ability to process that information. Cancer mortality in immigrant and refugee groups as well as in low income and ethnic minority populations in the United States may be related to such limitations. SIGNIFICANCE: Health literacy is increasingly recognized as an important factor in willingness to undergo cancer screenings. While much research has been done on patient literacy and readability of forms such as informed consent and patient education materials, less work has been done that places health literacy in the broader context of socioeconomic and cultural differences between patients and providers that hinder communication and compliance. In an NCI-funded four-year, mixed method project, The Impact of Culture on Health Literacy and Chronic Illness Outcomes, we are exploring cultural factors associated with health literacy and health-seeking behaviors. METHODS: We will present preliminary data gathered from a baseline survey conducted with clinic patients from the four ethnic groups that comprise our study sample (White, African American, Latino/Puerto Rican, Vietnamese). These data will identify the health beliefs that shape health literacy and corollary behaviors (e.g. health-seeking behavior, adherence to physician recommendations). This preliminary data comes from study participants who are being treated at an inner city community health center whose mission is to provide health care access to low income and immigrant populations. FINDINGS: Variation in health literacy across ethnic/cultural groups will be discussed, and preliminary findings concerning the association between health literacy and knowledge, beliefs and attitudes toward cancer screenings will also be presented. Special attention will be given to barriers to care related to cultural differences and socioeconomic status. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: A further aim of the project is to develop recommendations for primary health care providers on chronic disease management and cancer screening for ethnically diverse patients with limited health literacy. To this end, we will present a preliminary list of recommendations for providers that is intended to facilitate patient-provider communication, maximize patient adherence, and, ultimately, to improve patient utilization of cancer screening.