Community Input – Preventive Practices

United U.S. and is the second leading cancer killer in the country. The CDC estimates if adults, ages 50 or older, had regular screening tests for colon cancer, as many as 60% of the deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented. Recommended screening procedures include one of the following: fecal occult blood tests (FOBT) annually, flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years; double-contrast barium enema every five years, or colonoscopy every 10 years.

In Orange County, 69.1% of adults, ages 50 to 75, were compliant with the recommended screening practices for colorectal cancer. This rate was lower than Healthy People 2030 target of 74.4%.

Colon Cancer Screening, Adults, Ages 50-75

Orange County

Colorectal cancer screening

Source: CDC PLACES Data Portal, County Data 2020 Release, estimates for 2018. https://www.cdc.gov/places/ 69.1%

Community Input – Preventive Practices

Stakeholder interviews identified the following issues, challenges and barriers related to preventive practices. Following are their comments edited for clarity: • Lack of transportation and fear of accessing care due to immigration status are barriers to preventive practices. UCI has a mobile eye clinic that goes to schools and helps create access to preventive care. Having clinics that go beyond schools and provide preventive care on specific days in the community could help prevent a lot of disease. The need for mobile dental clinics in particular was named. There is a lack of resources tailored to women. There are particular needs for mental and behavioral health and reproductive health services among women who are unsheltered. • Health conditions occurring in older adults are sometimes a delayed response to issues or behaviors that could be addressed when people are younger and healthier.

Reaching young adults with health campaigns is a strategy for preventing major illness later in life.

UCI MEDICAL CENTER 2022 COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT 56