This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Maxwell, A. E. Articles by Bastani, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Maxwell, A. E. Articles by Bastani, R. Related Collections Behavioral Science Behavioral Science: Health Services and Outcomes Research

Disparities in the Receipt of Fecal Occult Blood Test versus Endoscopy among Filipino American Immigrants

Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research, School of Public Health/Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California

Requests for reprints: Annette E. Maxwell, 650 Charles Young Drive South, Room A2-125, CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6900. Phone: 310-794-9282; Fax: 310-206-3566. E-mail: amaxwell{at}ucla.edu

Background: This report examines disparities associated with the type of colorectal screening test, fecal occult blood test versus endoscopy, within a particular racial/ethnic group, Filipino American immigrants.

Methods: Between July 2005 and October 2006, Filipino Americans aged 50 to 75 years from 31 community organizations in Los Angeles completed a 15-minute survey in English (65%) or Filipino (35%).

Results: Of the 487 respondents included in this analysis, 257 (53%) had never received any type of colorectal cancer screening. Among the 230 subjects who had ever received a routine screening test, 78 had fecal occult blood test only (16% of the total sample), and 152 had endoscopy with or without fecal occult blood test (31% of the total sample). After controlling for access to care and key demographic variables in a multivariate analysis, only two characteristics distinguished between respondents who had fecal occult blood test only versus those who had endoscopy: acculturation, assessed by percent lifetime in the United States and language of interview, and income.

Conclusions: Our data suggest a two-tier system, fecal occult blood test for less acculturated Filipino Americans with lower income versus endoscopy for Filipino immigrants with higher levels of acculturation and income. The disparity persists after adjusting for access to care. Instead of treating minority groups as monolithic, differences within groups need to be examined so that interventions can be appropriately targeted. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(8):1963–7)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. E. Maxwell and C. M. Crespi Trends in Colorectal Cancer Screening Utilization among Ethnic Groups in California: Are We Closing the Gap? Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., March 1, 2009; 18(3): 752 - 759. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]