Abstract B110: A community-based educational intervention to improve colorectal cancer screening
Authors: Siddiqui Iqra , Nikita FNU , Lopez Ana Maria 
Published: September 2024

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 3rd leading cause of cancer death in the US. Early detection through screening increases survival and decreases mortality. Approximately 59% of eligible adults in the US are up to date on CRC screening with lower rates in minoritized communities. We report on a tailored a CRC screening educational intervention focused on improving CRC screening rates in the Black, Latinx, and Chinese immigrant communities that we serve. Methods: An educational intervention utilizing NCI’s Screen to Save CRC colorectal cancer educational materials was tailored through key contact interviews and focus groups with Black, Latinx, and Chinese immigrant communities and made available in Spanish/English/Mandarin. Invitations to participate were primarily disseminated through weekly email blasts to adults (persons age18+). A pre- and post-intervention survey was used to assess patient knowledge and intentions to screen. Persons completing the post-survey received a FIT test for CRC screening with a FIT. We used McNemar test to compare the results pre- and post-survey. Results: Of the 300 participants who completed the post-survey, 117 (39%) were male, and 183 were female (61%). 231 identified as white non-Latinx (77%), 48 (16%) Black, 3 (9%) Asians. 241 (80.3%) completed college. 186 (62%) had received CRC screening—176 (95%) by colonoscopy, 31 (17%) by fecal immunochemical test FIT prior to enrollment. 240 (80%) were eligible for FIT by age. 137 (83%) were interested in receiving FIT. Primary reasons for not pursuing FIT test included choosing to pursue a colonoscopy or having had a recent normal colonoscopy. 88 expressed interest pursuing FIT; 66 (75%) participants signed FIT consent form, and 41 (62%) completed FIT. Knowledge regarding CRC screening improved for the following questions: CRC starts in liver (p=0.0082), small intestine (p&lt;0.0001) and colon and/or rectum (p=0.0027), “FIT checks the stool for fat (p&lt;0.0001), tumors (p&lt;0.0001) and polyps (p=0.0067),” “Risk factors for CRC are poor diet (p=0.0019), smoking/tobacco use (p=0.0148), lack of physical activity(p=0.0012),” “Lynch syndrome is a disorder that runs in families and increases my chances of developing CRC (p&lt;0.0001)” and “Increasing my physical activity will not lower my chances of developing CRC (p=0.0019).” 153 (60.24%) said the education session was great and 91 (36.25%) said it was good. When asked if they would recommend this education session to family and friends, more than 80% of participants agreed. Conclusions: CRC education video helped increase patient knowledge regarding CRC, specifically about risk factors and improved knowledge regarding FIT as a CRC screening modality.

Citation Format: Iqra Siddiqui, FNU Nikita, Ana Maria Lopez. A community-based educational intervention to improve colorectal cancer screening [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B110.