Implementing An Organized Colorectal Cancer Screening Program

Implementing an Organized Colorectal Cancer Screening Program

Background: Colorectal cancer affects millions globally and is a significant source of disease burden and fatality. Nationally, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and is the second cause of fatality in cancer patients. Routine screening is necessary to catch many cancers before metastasis occurs. Colorectal cancer is becoming more common in adults under age 50, necessitating revised guidelines to start screening at age 45. Early screening can improve the five-year prognosis for colon cancer. Opportunistic screening programs are ineffective at targeting every eligible patient and offering screening. Organized screening programs that encourage patients to choose between stool testing or a colonoscopy more effectively identify every eligible patient in a provider's patient panel. Identifying patients and offering screening can increase the number of patients who complete screening. EBP Framework: Kurt Lewin's change theory served as the framework for this quality improvement project. Methods: The project's primary objective aimed to increase the number of colorectal cancer screenings offered and completed in a single, family practice clinic. After receiving IRB approval, an organized colorectal cancer screening program was implemented, which involved sending an email to every patient aged 45 to 74 offering colorectal cancer screening, providing education about the benefits and risks of the various screening methods, and offering an easy way to request testing. One hundred eighty-seven patients were identified and offered screening. A two-proportions z-test was used to determine the difference between demographic groups and the statistical significant of the intervention. Findings/Results: The project aimed to identify and offer colorectal cancer screening to every patient aged 45 to 74 in a single-family practice clinic. The project results suggested that implementing and organized colorectal cancer screening program will increase the number of patients being offered and completing screening. Conclusion: Implementing an organized colorectal cancer screening program increased the number of patients being offered and completing screening compared to an opportunistic screening program; therefore, it can be concluded that implementing an organized screening can help decrease the overall cancer burden by increasing the number of patients getting screened. It is recommended that an organized screening program is more effective than an opportunistic screening program in consistently offering patient s colorectal cancer screening.

Implementation mapping for selecting, adapting and developing implementation strategies

Implementing Colorectal Cancer Screening

The IOM's National Cancer Policy Board estimated in 2003 that even modest efforts to implement known tactics for cancer prevention and early detection could result in up to a 29 percent drop in cancer deaths in about 20 years. The IOM's National Cancer Policy Forum, which succeeded the Board after it was disbanded in 2005, continued the Board's work to outline ways to increase screening in the U.S. On February 25 and 26, 2008, the Forum convened a workshop to discuss screening for colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer screening remains low, despite strong evidence that screening prevents deaths. With the aim to make recommended colorectal cancer screening more widespread, the workshop discussed steps to be taken at the clinic, community, and health system levels. Workshop speakers, representing a broad spectrum of leaders in the field, identified major barriers to increased screening and described strategies to overcome these obstacles. This workshop summary highlights the information presented, as well as the subsequent discussion about actions needed to increase colorectal screening and, ultimately, to prevent more colorectal cancer deaths.