Healthy Colon, Healthy Life (Ruột Lành, Sống Khỏe): Patient and Physician Factors Associated with Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Vietnamese Americans in a County Medical Care System

Objective. To examine factors associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among Vietnamese Americans.

Methods. Telephone survey of Vietnamese aged 50–79 receiving primary care at participating clinics.

Results. Among 808 participants, 53% were up to date (UTD) with fecal occult blood test (FOBT), 19% were UTD with sigmoidoscopy, 28% were UTD with colonoscopy. Females were more likely to be UTD with FOBT (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.02, 1.93). Individuals in the U.S. for less than 15 years were less likely than others to be UTD with any CRC screening (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.44, 0.96). Patients of female physicians were more likely to be UTD with sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.15, 2.57). Ethnicity and language concordance were not associated with screening.

Conclusions. Many Vietnamese people are not receiving CRC screening. Women and patients of female physicians receive more screening.