| Despite evidence that colorectal cancer screening reduces incidence and mortality, adherence in the United States remain low. Demographic characteristics, health care system, knowledge, and health-related beliefs and attitudes have been investigated in the previous literature, but are not well-understood among the Asian groups, particularly among Filipino Americans. In addition, knowledge about the relationship between screening adherence and cultural characteristics is also limited; therefore, investigation is warranted. The present study describes the current screening rates for colorectal cancer and the predictors for current adherence among Filipinos in the United States.; One hundred six men and women without a personal history of colorectal cancer participated in a cross-sectional design utilizing mailed-in and in-person written surveys. The respondents were recruited through convenience, purposive and snowball sampling method. Respondents were surveyed regarding their sociodemographic, health care, knowledge, beliefs and attitudes, and cultural characteristics in relation to their adherence to fecal occult blood test (FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy (FSG) and colonoscopy (COL) screening.; The significant predictors in the final model of predicting current adherence in colorectal cancer screening for FOBT included increasing age ( p < .001); knowledge (p < .01), low level of acculturation (p = .01), and external control ( p < .05). For FSG, predictors of current adherence included age (p < .01) and knowledge (p < .05). Lastly, age (p < .05), and salience and coherence ( p < .05) were significant predictors of current adherence to colonoscopy screening. Doctor's recommendation was also included in the final model of colonoscopy screening, but was not significant. The current study demonstrated the importance of identifying predictors of colorectal cancer screening adherence among the Filipino population to ensure culturally-sensitive efforts in increasing screening capacity. |
