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Associations with the Receipt of Colon Cancer Screening Among a Diverse Sample of Arab Americans in NYC

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Abstract

Arab Americans (AA) face increased risk for colorectal cancer (CRC), the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the US, due to low utilization of preventative care and socioeconomic disparities. This study explores associations with the receipt of CRC screening among AA in New York City. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 100 individuals attending religious and community organizations with interviewer-administered surveys in Arabic and English. Results from 100 participants showed they were more likely to complete CRC screening with a doctor recommendation (74%) and were more likely to get a recommendation with a high school education or higher (86%). Uninsured participants and those with public insurance were the least likely to complete screening. Those with a higher mean score in Spiritual Life/Faith (13.34 vs. 11.67) were less likely to complete screening. Findings suggest the need for culturally sensitive interventions to increase CRC screening rates among AA.

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Acknowledgements

This publication was supported by the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P30 CA 008748. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Correspondence to Claudia Ayash.

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Ayash, C., Badreddine, D., Gatarny, R. et al. Associations with the Receipt of Colon Cancer Screening Among a Diverse Sample of Arab Americans in NYC. J Immigrant Minority Health 22, 503–511 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-019-00912-7

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