Colorectal cancer screening among Latinos in three communities on the Texas-Mexico border.
OBJECTIVE
To assess colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) prevalence and psychosocial correlates of CRCS among Latinos in South Texas.


METHODS
Using multivariable analyses, we examined the association of perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy, pros and cons, subjective norms, knowledge and fatalism on CRCS among 544 Latinos (50 years and older).


RESULTS
In this socioeconomically disadvantaged population, 40% had never heard of any CRCS test, only 34% reported ever completing any type of CRCS, and only 25% were adherent to CRCS guidelines. Insurance status, gender, perceived cons, CRCS self-efficacy, and CRCS norms were significantly associated with CRCS.


CONCLUSIONS
CRCS interventions in this population should focus on improving access, increasing self-efficacy and perceived norms, and decreasing negative perceptions of CRCS.
University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA Maria.E.Fernandez@uth.tmc.edu.
María E
ME
Fernández
University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA.
Lara S
LS
Savas
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Katherine M
KM
Wilson
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Texas Tech Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA.
Theresa L
TL
Byrd
University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA.
John
J
Atkinson
Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA Dorothy I. Height Center for Health Equity & Evaluation Research, University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, Houston, TX, USA.
Isabel
I
Torres-Vigil
University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA.
Sally W
SW
Vernon
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000523:psychology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005243:Feces / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013781:Texas
Hispanic Americans; cancer screening; colorectal cancer