Perspectives of colorectal cancer risk and screening among Dominicans and Puerto Ricans: stigma and misperceptions.
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer among Latinos, but a lower percentage of Latinos are screened than Whites and Blacks. Along with recognized economic barriers, differences in knowledge and perceptions might impede colorectal screening among Latinos. We conducted 147 individual, qualitative interviews with Dominicans and Puerto Ricans in the northeastern United States to explore their explanatory models for colorectal cancer and screening barriers. Many participants had not previously heard of colorectal cancer. The most commonly mentioned cause of colorectal cancer was anal sex. Also considered risks were "bad food," digestion leading to constipation, and strained bowel movements. Screening barriers included stigma, misperceptions, embarrassment, and machismo. Progress toward increasing colorectal cancer screening requires normalization of this screening among Latinos. Higher patient familiarity, along with improved physician counseling and referral, might contribute to reducing stigma and other barriers, and to enhancing knowledge and Latino community support of colorectal cancer screening.
Brown University, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA. roberta_goldman@mhri.org
Roberta E
RE
Goldman
Joseph A
JA
Diaz
Ivone
I
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D004293:Dominican Republic / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult