P0449 - Black Men's Perspectives: Fear and Mortality Concerns in Colon Cancer

Katherine Rangoussis, BS, MS¹, Maanvi Vij, BS¹, Ivan Berezowski, MD¹, Reid Schalet, MD¹, Zeina Bani Hani, MBBS¹, Carol Gergis, MD, MS¹, Omar K. Abu-Ghannam, BS¹, Puja Sasankan, BS¹, Al-Hafis Adegun, BA¹, Anosha Baig, BS², Mrudula Bandaru, MD¹, Marie L.. Borum, MD, MPH, FACG^1
1George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC; ²GW MFA, Washington, DC

Introduction: Colon cancer is the second most common cancer-related death in the United States, with African Americans experiencing higher incidence and mortality rates compared to other racial groups. Efforts to increase colon cancer screening are needed to improve outcomes. Understanding individuals’ perceptions about colon cancer is important when discussing prevention and intervention. This survey study evaluated the colon cancer perspectives of African-Americans who participated in a health fair.

Methods: African-American health fair participants were asked to offer their perspectives about colon cancer in 10 words or less in an anonymous survey. Responses were analyzed by keyword frequency and thematically categorized. Respective attitude groups were stratified based upon gender. Quantitative analysis was performed using Fisher Exact test with significance set at p< 0.05.

Results: 51 of 57 (89.5%) African-American fair participants completed the survey. There were 37 women (age range 19-85) and 14 men (age range 27-85). Primary response categories included fear and death, prevention and screening, intestinal anatomy and physiology, lack of awareness, community disparities and other. The most common response categories were fear and death (39.2% respondents). Men more frequently commented about fear and death than women (p=0.0205). There was no significant difference between men and women’s responses related to prevention and screening (p=0.5369), intestinal anatomy and physiology (p=0.5647) and lack of awareness (p=1.000). Additionally, 9.8% of respondents commented about the impact of colon cancer in the African-American community, with no significant difference in frequency of comments between men and women (p=1.000).

Discussion: This study offers important information about colon cancer perspectives of African-American health fair participants. It is of interest that African-American men more frequently expressed concerns about fear and death compared to women. In addition, 9.8% health fair participants recognized colon cancer disparities in the African-American community. It is uncertain if fear about colon cancer influences screening patterns. Further study is needed to understand colon cancer concerns to tailor educational programs that can assist in improving outcomes.


Disclosures:


Katherine Rangoussis, BS, MS¹, Maanvi Vij, BS¹, Ivan Berezowski, MD¹, Reid Schalet, MD¹, Zeina Bani Hani, MBBS¹, Carol Gergis, MD, MS¹, Omar K. Abu-Ghannam, BS¹, Puja Sasankan, BS¹, Al-Hafis Adegun, BA¹, Anosha Baig, BS², Mrudula Bandaru, MD¹, Marie L.. Borum, MD, MPH, FACG¹. P0449 - Black Men's Perspectives: Fear and Mortality Concerns in Colon Cancer, ACG 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Philadelphia, PA: American College of Gastroenterology.