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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
http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/abstract/23/7/...
Target Audience
Adults

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An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.
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