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Preventive Health Behaviors Among Low-Income African American and Hispanic Populations: Can Colonoscopy Screening Serve as a Teachable Moment?

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Abstract

Introduction

Teachable moments (TMs) are situations with potential for promoting health behavior change. Little is known as to whether colonoscopy screening itself may serve as a TM, particularly among low-income or minority populations. Research in this area is needed to inform efforts to address the disproportionate burden of colorectal cancer (CRC) experienced by minorities.

Aims

This study aims to describe attitudes related to physical activity (PA) and healthy eating among a low-income Hispanic and African American sample, assess whether colonoscopy completion may encourage changes in dietary behavior or PA, and determine the type of interventions minority participants would prefer to promote preventive behaviors.

Methods

Average-risk African American and Hispanic individuals who are referred for a screening colonoscopy at a Primary Care Clinic between May 2008 and December 2011 were eligible. Data were collected at three time points: at recruitment, 2 weeks before their colonoscopy, and 1 month after their colonoscopy (n = 537).

Results

The difference in change in PA from baseline to post-colonoscopy follow-up between those who had a colonoscopy and those who did not was significant (p = .04). Those who completed a colonoscopy increased their PA by 0.26 days on average, whereas, those who did not decreased their PA by 0.46 days.

Discussion

Findings suggest that the time following colonoscopy completion may be ideal to provide health promotion for PA and healthy eating. Future research is needed to explore the mechanisms that influence health behavior change as a result of colonoscopies to inform the development of interventions in this area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA

    Pathu Sriphanlop, Lina Jandorf, Heiddis Valdimarsdottir & William Redd

  2. Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, USA

    Hayley Thompson

  3. Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, USA

    Rachel C. Shelton

Authors
  1. Pathu Sriphanlop
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  2. Lina Jandorf
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  3. Hayley Thompson
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  4. Heiddis Valdimarsdottir
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  5. William Redd
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  6. Rachel C. Shelton
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Correspondence to Pathu Sriphanlop.

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Sriphanlop, P., Jandorf, L., Thompson, H. et al. Preventive Health Behaviors Among Low-Income African American and Hispanic Populations: Can Colonoscopy Screening Serve as a Teachable Moment?. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 5, 179–186 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-017-0355-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-017-0355-z

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