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Brief Report: Exploration of Colorectal Cancer Risk Perceptions Among Latinos

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Abstract

To explore colorectal cancer risk perceptions among Latinos. Focus groups discussions among Spanish-speaking Latinos conducted between February and July 2007 with 37 men and women who were age-eligible for colorectal cancer screening. Predominant themes of perceived colorectal cancer risk included: general cancer risks, risks related to nutrition and the digestive tract, and risks related to sexual practices. Participants frequently referred to the role of diet in keeping the colon “clean,” suggesting that retained feces increase colorectal cancer risk. Among both men and women, rectal sex was commonly associated with increased colorectal cancer risk. Some Latinos may hold misperceptions about colorectal cancer risks, including an association between rectal sex and colon cancer, that may impact their screening behaviors. Clinicians and public health officials should consider these potential risk misperceptions and explore for other risk misperceptions when counseling and educating patients about colorectal cancer screening.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute (1K07CA106780). The funders of this project (NIH/NCI), aside from initial peer review of the grant application and yearly progress reports, had no involvement in the study design, data collection, analysis, manuscript preparation, or decision to submit this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Primary Care and Prevention, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, 111 Brewster Street, CPCP bldg, 2nd Floor, Pawtucket, RI, 02860, USA

    Joseph A. Diaz, Roberta Goldman & Charles B. Eaton

  2. Division of General Internal Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Joseph A. Diaz

  3. Department of Family Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Roberta Goldman, Jeffrey Borkan & Charles B. Eaton

  4. Department of Community Health, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Naira Arellano & Charles B. Eaton

Authors
  1. Joseph A. Diaz
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  2. Roberta Goldman
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  3. Naira Arellano
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  4. Jeffrey Borkan
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  5. Charles B. Eaton
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joseph A. Diaz.

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Diaz, J.A., Goldman, R., Arellano, N. et al. Brief Report: Exploration of Colorectal Cancer Risk Perceptions Among Latinos. J Immigrant Minority Health 13, 188–192 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-009-9312-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-009-9312-1

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