On January 15, 2004, UCLA’s Center for Health Policy Research released Cancer Screening in California: Findings from the 2001 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). CHIS examined cancer-screening rates for breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate cancers by race and ethnicity, and other demographic characteristics. Even after controlling for level of income and type of health insurance, Asians reported lower rates of screening than whites for all four cancers and Latinos lower rates for breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. The lowest screening rates reported by any race/ethnicity were those of Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. American Indians and Alaskan Natives were also less likely to be screened for breast or prostate cancer than whites. Recommendations include the raising of provider awareness of disparate screening rates; especially among those who serve populations with low screening rates.

 In keeping with those recommendations, the Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations in collaboration with the California Medical Association Foundation, L.A. Care, New California Media, and The California Endowment developed The Cancer Screening Awareness Project. Developed by an expert panel of ethnic physicians, and cancer prevention and treatment specialists, the project provides reference and resource materials for both patients and physicians, multi-cultural / multi-ethnic outreach materials such as press releases, articles, fliers, advertisements designed specifically for Spanish, Asian, Pacific Islander, and a variety of other ethnic groups in 10 different languages. In an effort to distribute provider education materials to physicians, an accredited CME course has also been developed.

We thank the California Endowment for their support.