Closing the Gap
Patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) experience lower rates of cancer screening compared to their English-proficient counterparts in the United States, a trend reflected locally in Rochester, Minnesota, where significant disparities persist in clinic-based screening rates. Addressing these gaps requires innovative, community-informed approaches tailored to the unique needs of LEP patients. The overall objective of this project is to develop a comprehensive intervention framework for cancer screening that considers patient, provider, health system, and community-level contexts. To achieve this, the first step involves rigorous qualitative research with patients and stakeholders to explore the underlying mechanisms driving screening disparities in this population. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted to (1) examine adult patients’ subjective norms, attitudes, motivations, and structural barriers affecting cancer screening in a primary care setting, and (2) capture the perspectives of non-patient stakeholders—including healthcare providers, medical interpreters, and community leaders—on potential drivers of disparities between LEP and non-LEP populations.
Findings from this qualitative inquiry, combined with practice administrative data and insights from a literature review, will inform the development of a theory-driven framework to guide future interventions aimed at reducing cancer screening disparities in LEP patients. This study represents a foundational step toward the broader goal of designing a multi-modal intervention that integrates patient, provider, health system, and community-level strategies to improve cancer screening access and outcomes among individuals with LEP.
Publications
Funding
Mayo Clinic: Office of Health Disparities Research