A Workplace-Based Intervention to Improve Awareness, Knowledge, and Utilization of Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screenings Among Latino Service and Manual Labor Employees in Utah

Abstract

In the United States, Latinos are more likely to be uninsured and diagnosed with later stage cancer than non-Hispanic whites. Promotoras (lay health educators) help improve cancer knowledge and facilitate access to cancer screenings. We tested a promotora led workplace-based intervention to improve knowledge of and adherence to breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening among Latino employees in service or manual labor jobs. Latinos 18 and older from Salt Lake County, Utah were enrolled from January 2015 to February 2016. N = 265 completed pre- and post-intervention surveys that measured knowledge of and adherence to breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings. Demographic, economic, and cancer factors of participants who completed the intervention were compared to those who were incomplete. Changes in knowledge and adherence were calculated using McNemar’s tests. Logistic regression compared outcomes by select demographic, economic and cancer factors. More participants were older, spoke Non-English languages, were single/widow(er)s, worked part-time, and had an immediate family member with cancer compared to those who did not complete the study (all p < 0.05). Knowledge of the age to begin cancer screenings increased significantly from baseline to follow-up for cervical (65.1–77.7%), breast (67.2–81.7%), and colorectal cancer (49.8–80.7%), all p ≤ 0.001. Knowledge of the frequency of cervical (34.0–46.5%) and colorectal (72.1–84.5%) screening increased from baseline to follow-up, both p < 0.001. Adherence to fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) for colorectal cancer increased from baseline to follow-up (13.8–56.9%, p < 0.001). Promotora led workplace-based interventions can strengthen community capacity for educating and supporting Latino employees in preventing breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer.