VIDEO: Interactive map spots priority zones to boost CRC screening in Hispanic, Latino adults
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Key takeaways:
- Hispanic and Latino populations in the U.S. historically have the lowest CRC screening rates (around 50%).
- Individuals of Mexican heritage were the most prominent group represented in priority tracts.
Researchers have identified priority areas in the U.S. where interventions are needed to improve colorectal cancer screening among Hispanic and Latino individuals with disproportionate access.
“We found that there were distinct geographic relationships between population percentages of various Hispanic or Latino groups, as defined by region or country of origin, and neighborhood colorectal cancer screening rates,” Blake Buchalter, PhD, MPH, postdoctoral fellow and spatial epidemiologist at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, told Healio. “Specifically, we were able to identify groups of priority neighborhoods throughout the United States where increasing colorectal cancer screening uptake would benefit individual Hispanic or Latino component groups.”
According to research published in the American Journal of Public Health, the Hispanic and Latino population in the U.S. has the lowest CRC screening rate — around 50% —compared with other census-designated racial or ethnic groups.
Using CDC PLACES and American Community Survey data, Buchalter and colleagues performed geographically weighted regression and Getis-Ord Gi* hot spot analyses to identify census tract-level areas where improved CRC screening uptake could benefit this population.
The researchers identified 6,519 priority tracts for individuals of Mexican heritage, 3,477 for Puerto Rican, 3,522 for Central/South American, 1,069 for Dominican and 1,424 for Cuban, with average screening rates of 57.2%, 59.9%, 59.3%, 58.9% and 60.4%, respectively.
Based on these results, Buchalter and colleagues created an interactive web map that highlights priority zones that public health authorities, policymakers, clinicians and other stakeholders can use to guide resources and interventions.
“While these findings provide context where improving colorectal cancer screening uptake could benefit Hispanic or Latino populations, more research is needed to dig deeper into whether the areas we identified are the ideal locations for more intensive interventions,” Buchalter told Healio.
Reference:
- Cleveland Clinic-led research identifies priority zones that may help improve colorectal cancer screening among Hispanic/Latino individuals. https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2024/07/31/cleveland-clinic-led-research-identifies-priority-zones-that-may-help-improve-colorectal-cancer-screening-among-hispaniclatino-individuals. Published July 31, 2024. Accessed Aug. 07, 2024.
Collapse
Read more about
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts