Skip to main content

Colorectal Cancer Screening Intervention for Veterans

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

This study used a combination of provider and patient education to improve colorectal cancer screening rates among veterans. Patients at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center were qualified to participate if they were aged 50 and older, had not received colorectal cancer screening, and had no family history of colorectal cancer or polyps. Health care providers involved in the intervention attended a workshop on colorectal cancer screening. Following the initial workshop, providers attended quality improvement workshops every 4 to 6 months, where they received information about the facility's recommendation rates, patient adherence to screening recommendation, personalized feedback, and training to improve communication with patients with low literacy. Veterans who participated in the program viewed a short video on colorectal cancer screening and received an educational brochure with simplified language and illustrations.

Goal / Mission

The goal of this program was to increase colorectal cancer screening recommendations and completion rates at a Veterans Affairs medical center.

Impact

Veterans Affairs (VA) patients in the intervention group received more recommendations for colorectal cancer screening and completed more screening tests compared to those in the control group.

Results / Accomplishments

The study was evaluated using a randomized controlled trial. Colorectal cancer screening recommendation was significantly higher for patients in the intervention group than the control group (76.0% vs. 69.4%, p = 0.02). Screening test completion was significantly higher among patients in the intervention group than the control group (41.3% vs. 32.4%, p = 0.003). Patients with health literacy skills below the ninth grade level were significantly more likely to complete screening in the intervention group than the control group (55.7% vs. 30.0%, p < 0.01).

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Veterans Affairs Midwest Center for Health Services and Policy Research, Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Primary Contact
Rosario Ferreira, MD
Northwestern University
Feinberg School of Medicine
676 N St Clair St, Ste 1400
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 695-4065
mr-ferreira@northwestern.edu
http://www.medicine.northwestern.edu/faculty/profi...
Topics
Health / Cancer
Health / Prevention & Safety
Organization(s)
Veterans Affairs Midwest Center for Health Services and Policy Research, Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Source
Journal of Clinical Oncology
Date of publication
5/1/2005
Date of implementation
2001
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
Chicago, IL
For more details
Target Audience
Adults
Miami-Dade Matters