Parra-Medina Deborah, Messias DeAnne K Hilfinger, Fore Elizabeth, Rachel Mayo, Petry Denyse, Das Irene Prabhu
J S C Med Assoc. 2009 Dec;105(7):297-305.
Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and morality among Hispanics, the fastest growing population group in South Carolina (SC). The Partnership for Cancer Prevention (PCP) was established to build partnerships and community capacity to address cervical cancer early detection and control among the growing Latina population in SC. In this paper we report on the initial PCP community-based participatory research (CBPR) project.
PCP members engaged in a multi-method, participatory research project to assess cervical cancer related resources and needs among Latinas and healthcare providers. To explore attitudes and behaviors related to women's health in general and more specifically, female cancer, PCP members conducted 8 focus group sessions with 38 Spanish-speaking women. To assess the availability and perceived importance of culturally and linguistically appropriate services, PCP members conducted a survey of providers (n=46) and support personnel (n=30) at 14 clinical sites that provide cancer screening services.
Health care access issues were Latinas' main concerns. For information and assistance in accessing and navigating the health care system, they relied on informal social networks and community outreach workers. Latina participants voiced misunderstandings about cancer risk and most appeared to lack a prevention orientation. Practitioners’ concerns included the assessment and documentation of patients' language preference and ability, provision of language assistance for limited-English-proficient (LEP) patients, and bilingual staff.
Building on the findings of this participatory research initiative, PCP members identified the following action strategies to promote cervical cancer screening among Latinas in SC: culturally appropriate cervical cancer awareness messages and outreach strategies geared towards increasing participation in cervical cancer screening and follow-up; maintenance of active community partnerships for health promotion, cancer risk reduction, and improved access to care; and increasing the capacity of the health care systems in SC to address Hispanic health concerns.
癌症是南卡罗来纳州（SC）增长最快的人群——西班牙裔中发病和死亡的主要原因。癌症预防伙伴关系（PCP）的成立旨在建立伙伴关系和社区能力，以解决SC不断增长的拉丁裔人群中的宫颈癌早期检测和控制问题。在本文中，我们报告了PCP最初基于社区的参与性研究（CBPR）项目。
PCP成员参与了一个多方法的参与性研究项目，以评估拉丁裔和医疗服务提供者中与宫颈癌相关的资源和需求。为了探讨与一般女性健康，尤其是女性癌症相关的态度和行为，PCP成员与38名讲西班牙语的女性进行了8次焦点小组会议。为了评估文化和语言适宜服务的可用性和感知重要性，PCP成员对14个提供癌症筛查服务的临床地点的提供者（n = 46）和支持人员（n = 30）进行了调查。
医疗保健获取问题是拉丁裔的主要担忧。为了获取医疗保健系统的信息和帮助，他们依赖于非正式的社交网络和社区外展工作者。拉丁裔参与者对癌症风险存在误解，大多数人似乎缺乏预防意识。从业者的担忧包括对患者语言偏好和能力的评估与记录、为英语水平有限（LEP）的患者提供语言帮助以及双语工作人员。
基于这项参与性研究倡议的结果，PCP成员确定了以下行动策略，以促进SC拉丁裔人群的宫颈癌筛查：针对提高宫颈癌筛查和后续参与率的文化适宜的宫颈癌意识信息和外展策略；维持积极的社区伙伴关系以促进健康、降低癌症风险并改善医疗服务获取；以及提高SC医疗保健系统解决西班牙裔健康问题的能力。
