Abstract B7: A church-based, Spanish-language community education breast health program increases awareness and utilization of breast diagnostic services among Hispanics

Introduction: A higher percentage of Hispanic women with breast cancer present with locally advanced tumors than Caucasian women likely as a result of a lower utilization of breast cancer screening mammograms in the Hispanic population. Multiple factors contribute to these disparities including socio-economic factors and language barriers. A church-based community education program in Spanish, directed to the Northeast Florida Hispanic population was carried out by the Mayo Clinic in collaboration with the University of North Florida, the Duval County Health Department, and the American Cancer Society. The program's goal was to assess the awareness of this population about the importance of breast cancer screening, good nutrition and the community resources available for free care in the region.

Methods: A community-based advisory board, the Hispanic Outreach Program in Spanish (en “Español”) for women (HOPE “para mujeres”) was created which contacted and reserved regional churches that held religious services in Spanish as program venues. A four-month print and radio media educational campaign was followed by six live seminars at Hispanic churches run by a Mayo Medical Oncologist, a Nutritionist, an Oncology Nurse and a health department program coordinator. Presentations were in Spanish. Seminars included education on breast self examination, the importance of screening mammography and information about free screening programs. Because obesity is associated with breast cancer risk, specific nutritional advice was also provided. An Audience Response System was used to assess the effectiveness of the educational events.

Results: A total of 296 participants, most of them women, were reached during 6 educational programs. Seventy four participants were surveyed. Fifty-three percent of those surveyed only understood Spanish and 63% were uninsured. Fifty-six percent had never received information about breast cancer. Only 8% of participants were aware of free mammography screening programs in the region. The percentage of participants willing to make changes in their diets increased from 25% to 63% as a result of the education sessions. The percentage of Hispanic patients participating in the Duval County breast cancer screening program increased from 13.5% in 2007 to 19.5% during this educational program run in 2008.

Conclusions: A Spanish-language, community-organized, church-based education program can increase awareness and utilization of community breast cancer screening programs available to Hispanic women and women of low socioeconomic status.

Funded by: American Cancer Society and Mayo Clinic Cancer Center Grants