Integrating Community Health Workers for Genetic Cancer Screening in Primary Care for Latina Women

Community health workers (CHWs) can identify patients who may benefit from genetic testing as part of comprehensive cancer prevention for Latina women. A community-university partnership developed and implemented a comprehensive cancer prevention program in the Salinas Valley, California, that included screening for genetic risk factors. CHWs invited Latina women for breast and cervical cancer screening and screened for genetic risk factors. The project took place from October 2020 to May 2023. To evaluate the program, baseline and 4-month follow-up surveys assessed demographic information (age, gender, marital status, educational attainment, household size and income, employment status and industry), health literacy, food insecurity, and cancer-related behaviors, cancer-related knowledge, and satisfaction with the CHW program. Latina participants (n = 156) were middle-aged (average age 42.8 SD 10.7), had a high school education or less (78%), and had annual household incomes less than $35,000 (72%). Women reported increases in awareness of cancer risk factors, including high-fat diet, lack of fruit and vegetable consumption and exercise, overweight/obese, and ways to slow down the development of colon/lung/skin cancer (p < .05). Of the 156 women enrolled, 153 completed the screener to identify genetic risk, and 33 (22%) were offered genetic testing. Of those that were offered genetic testing, 6 (18%) women expressed interest in testing. Reasons for not wanting to get testing included low perceived cancer risk, competing personal or family health priorities, lack of time for additional appointments due to work and caregiving, concerns about cost, and fear of potential findings. CHWs can screen for genetic risk factors as part of a comprehensive cancer prevention program.