title: Dissemination of colorectal cancer screening by Filipino American community health advisors: a feasibility study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Filipino Americans underutilize life-saving screening tests for colorectal cancer, resulting in late stage of diagnosis and poor survival relative to other racial/ethnic groups. Education regarding colorectal cancer screening and distribution of free fecal occult blood test (FOBT) kits are evidence-based interventions that can significantly increase screening. However, this community will only benefit if the intervention is broadly disseminated.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the feasibility of promoting colorectal cancer screening in Filipino American community settings working with community health advisors, and the practicality of conducting one-on-one or small group education, in addition to passing out free FOBT kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty community health advisors from 4 organizations engaged in recruitment and education activities with 132 participants. Community health advisors consistently completed screening questionnaires to establish eligibility and kept logs of FOBT distribution. However, they did not consistently record eligible participants who did not consent to participate. Process checklists that indicated what information was covered in each educational session and postsession follow-up logs were partially completed. Almost all participants reported receipt of intervention components and receipt of screening at 4-month follow-up and reported high acceptability of the program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pilot study established the feasibility of working with community health advisors to promote colorectal cancer screening in Filipino American community settings. Findings informed the design of a dissemination trial that is currently ongoing with regards to monitoring recruitment, intervention implementation and follow-up and allowing flexibility regarding one-on-one or small group education.
authors.affiliation: Fielding School of Public Health and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6900, USA. amaxwell@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Annette E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Maxwell
authors.forename: Leda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Danao
authors.forename: Roshan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bastani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001213:Asian; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D010679:Philippines; D010865:Pilot Projects