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Importance of Colorectal Cancer Screening
About 60 million adults live in rural areas of the US, where many do not get screened for colorectal cancer (CRC). This is especially true for those on Medicaid.
Study Objective
The goal of this study was to see how effective a program was that used mailed tests and support to help people get screened for CRC after an abnormal test result.
Study Overview
This clinical trial took place in 28 rural clinics in Oregon. It involved 5,614 Medicaid enrollees aged 50-75 who needed CRC screening. The clinics were divided into two groups: one received the new program, while the other continued with usual care.
Intervention Details
The program included:
- Sending mailed tests for CRC screening
- Providing support to help patients go for follow-up colonoscopy if needed
Support included training for clinic staff and tools to track patient progress.
Key Findings
The results showed that:
- In the intervention group, 11.8% completed CRC screening within 6 months, compared to 4.5% in usual care.
- All eligible participants received the mailed tests, with high rates of notifications and reminders sent out.
- 57.9% of those with abnormal results received help to schedule a colonoscopy.
Conclusions
The study found that sending tests by mail and providing patient support significantly increased CRC screening rates among Medicaid enrollees in rural clinics. More work is needed to improve follow-up screenings.
Opportunities for Improvement
Based on the trial data, clinics can:
- Set clear goals for increasing screening rates.
- Use AI tools to enhance patient outreach and navigation.
- Start with pilot projects to track improvements over time.
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