Identification of Priorities for Colorectal Cancer Screening Interventions Among US Hispanic/Latino Populations.

Abstract

<b>Objectives.</b> To identify nationwide census tract‒level areas where improving colorectal cancer (CRC) screening uptake via targeted local preventive intervention may benefit Hispanic or Latino/a (H/L) groups defined by region or country of origin. <b>Methods.</b> Using 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention PLACES and American Community Survey data, we applied geographically weighted regression and Getis-Ord Gi* hot spot procedures to identify CRC screening priority zones for H/L groups in the United States. Priority zones can be conceptualized as census tracts with strong inverse associations between percentage of a particular H/L group in the population and CRC screening rate, after adjusting for socioeconomic deprivation and lack of insurance. <b>Results.</b> We identified 6519, 3477, 3522, 1069, and 1424 census tract CRC screening priority zones for H/L communities of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Central/South American, Dominican, and Cuban heritage, respectively. Priority zones for H/L groups had strong spatial heterogeneity, and overlap of geographic patterns among H/L groups varied by region. <b>Conclusions.</b> Our findings and interactive web map may serve as a translational tool for public health authorities, policymakers, clinicians, and other stakeholders to target investment and interventions to increase guideline-concordant CRC screening uptake benefitting specific H/L communities in the United States. (<i>Am J Public Health</i>. 2024;114(S6):S515-S524. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307733) [Formula: see text].