Translated Educational Infographics Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates in Non-Native English Speakers.

Abstract

Introduction: Language barriers hinder colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in underserved populations of non- native English speakers, particularly in Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities; yet, patient educational materials are not readily available in languages other than English and Spanish.

Methods: In this pilot study, American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) infographics were translated into Chinese (traditional/simplified), Hmong, and Vietnamese, and distributed along with a translated pre-post survey to average-risk patients between 45-75 years old at a safety-net clinic. Primary outcomes were CRC screening rates and secondary outcomes were patients' perceptions of CRC screening.

Results: CRC screening rates increased from 19.5% to 54.3% (p-value <0.01), while more than 80.0% noted increased understanding of CRC and plans to pursue screening.

Discussion: These findings demonstrate that providing translated, language-concordant infographics significantly increased CRC screening rates and patient understanding among non-native English speakers. Creating and integrating the use of culturally and linguistically tailored educational materials in resource-limited clinics can help eliminate disparities and narrow the colorectal cancer screening gap in AAPI communities.