Provider Intervention to Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates Among African American Patients

This provider intervention provides focused education to resident physicians to encourage adherence to colorectal cancer screening practices in African Americans. Colorectal cancer causes disproportional morbidity and mortality among African Americans. There is evidence that resident physicians inconsistently screen for colorectal cancer; this program focuses on issues related to disparities in colorectal cancer. Health care providers attend instructive seminars which include an observation of screening exams, a pre-test and post-test, and training on how to chart performance of cancer screening on summary forms in patient medical records. Education sessions use case-based learning discussions moderated by a senior-level health care provider. For each case reviewed, screening guidelines are reviewed and the appropriate screening modality is chosen based on the patient's age, race, gender, and family history.

The goal of this intervention is to improve colorectal cancer screening rates for African Americans.

This educational intervention was evaluated using a pre- and post-analysis of resident physicians' adherence to colorectal cancer screening recommendations. There was a statistically significant increase in the performance of endoscopic assessments from 26.7% pre-intervention to 59.1% post-intervention (p < 0.0001). There was no statistical significance to the increase in rectal exams (p = 0.66) or fecal occult blood testing (p = 0.77).