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Factors Influencing Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Thais in the U.S.

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Abstract

This study examined factors related to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening uptake among Thais in the United States. A total of 121 Thais between 50 and 75 years of age, who were married and living in southern California participated in the survey (mean age = 61 years). Out of all the participants, only 21% of the participants had fecal occult blood tests, 21% had sigmoidoscopy, and 45% had colonoscopy that were within the recommended period. Overall, 55% of participants met CRC screening adherence criteria. Participants who had had regular checkups in the previous 2 years without having any symptoms were 16 times more likely to have obtained CRC screening than their counterparts (OR 16.01, CI 3.75–68.75) in the multivariable logistic regression model. Other significant predictors of screening adherence included older age (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00–1.17), having lived in the U.S. 15 years or longer (OR 6.65, 95% CI 1.55–28.59), having had at least some college education (OR 3.74, 95% CI 1.23–11.37), and higher levels of perceived self-efficacy (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.01–3.50) to obtain CRC screening. Targeted interventions for Thais who are less likely receive CRC screening could be effective in improving CRC screening. Interventions to improve the populations’ awareness of the importance of preventive measures when they are not sick could be also effective.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude for the leaders of Thai community and religious organizations who allowed us to approach their community members. We would also like to thank those who participated in our study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, 700 Tiverton Ave., #-4-258, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Eunice Lee & Umme Shefa Warda

  2. School of Nursing, California State University, San Marcos, 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd., San Marcos, CA, 92096, USA

    Bulaporn Natipagon-Shah

  3. Department of Nursing, San Diego City College, 1313 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA, 92102, USA

    Samantha Sangsanoi-Terkchareon

  4. Department of Nursing, Chosun University, 309 Pilmun-daero, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 501-759, Republic of Korea

    Shin-Young Lee

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  1. Eunice Lee
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Correspondence to Shin-Young Lee.

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Ethical Approval

This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The Institutional Review Board of a university in southern California approved this study.

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Lee, E., Natipagon-Shah, B., Sangsanoi-Terkchareon, S. et al. Factors Influencing Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Thais in the U.S.. J Community Health 44, 230–237 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-018-0578-x

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