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ABSTRACT: Hispanics are affected by many health care disparities. The National Cancer Institute (NCI), through its Special Populations Branch, is supporting networking and capacity-building activities designed to increase Hispanic participation and leadership in cancer research. Redes En Acción established a national network of cancer research centers, community-based organizations, and federal partners to facilitate opportunities for junior Hispanic scientists to participate in training and research projects on cancer control. Since 2000, Redes En Acción has established a network of more than 1800 Hispanic leaders involved in cancer research and education. The project has sustained 131 training positions and submitted 29 pilot projects to NCI for review, with 16 awards for a total of $800,000, plus an additional $8.8 million in competing grant funding based on pilot study results to date. Independent research has leveraged an additional $32 million in non-Redes funding, and together the national and regional network sites have participated in more than 1400 community and professional awareness events. In addition, the program conducted extensive national survey research that provided the basis for the Redes En Acción Latino Cancer Report, a national agenda on Hispanic cancer issues. Redes En Acción has increased participation in cancer control research, training, and awareness among Hispanic scientists and within Hispanic communities. Cancer 2006. (c) 2006 American Cancer Society.
Cancer 11/2006; 107(8 Suppl):2023-33. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Personal health behaviors play a fundamental role in premature cancer morbidity and mortality. However, routine risk factor data on Latino groups are lacking. Knowledge of cancer risk prevalence by ethnoregional groups is particularly important for development of effective prevention and control strategies.
Using the diverse populations and sites involved in the National Hispanic Leadership Initiative on Cancer (NHLIC): En Acción, this paper examines prevalence of six cancer risk factors among Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central American adult males in eight U.S. cities. Data were collected through two telephone surveys. The 1993-1994 sample consisted of 4170 males (2041 <40 years and 2120 > or =40 years). The 1997-1998 sample consisted of 4486 males (2286 <40 years and 2200 > or =40 years).
Clear differences exist in risk factor prevalence among Latino subgroups. Overall, riskiest behaviors were found among Mexican American men in Texas, more of whom smoked, engaged in acute alcohol drinking, and had poorer diets and higher obesity levels than other Latino men.
Root causes of these ethnoregional differences are likely due to both economic and cultural factors. Cancer prevention and control strategies and programs should be tailored to address specific needs of each population group.
Preventive Medicine 08/2004; 39(2):263-9. · 3.22 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Little is known about prostate and colorectal cancer knowledge, attitudes, and screening practices among U.S. Latino men. Even less is known about the population's subgroup variations. This study assessed predictors of having obtained digital rectal examinations (DREs) among four Latino subgroups.
Findings in this report are based on a cross-sectional telephone survey conducted between October 1993 and June 1994 as part of a multisite demonstration project for cancer prevention and control. The survey was conducted in eight U.S. cities identified via census data as having relatively high concentrations of targeted Latino subgroups. The analysis included 1499 Latino men aged > or = 40 who self-identified as Central American, Cuban American, Mexican American, or Puerto Rican.
Overall, 53% of the sample reported ever having had a DRE and 68% reported ever having heard of the procedure. For all subgroups, the only significant predictor for obtaining a DRE was "ever heard of DRE." "Having your doctor discuss DRE" was a significant factor for Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans.
The lack of a universal DRE cancer-screening model among Latino groups highlights the need to address barriers in the context of the population's diversity. Ecologic approaches and clinician communication with Latinos need to be tailored to accommodate subgroup differences in knowledge, attitude, and practices related to DRE.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine 01/2002; 22(1):36-41. · 4.04 Impact Factor
