Colorectal Cancer Screening in Primary Care: Theoretical Model to Improve Prevalence in the Practice Partner Research Network

• Published in: Health promotion practice 2011-03, Vol.12 (2), p.229-234
• Main Authors: Nemeth, Lynne S., Jenkins, Ruth G., Nietert, Paul J., Ornstein, Steven M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; American people; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Death & dying; Early Detection of Cancer; Female; Health Promotion - organization & administration; Humans; Interventions; Male; Medical screening; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Primary care; Primary health care; Primary Health Care - organization & administration; Quality control; Quality improvement; Screening; Sex Factors
• ISSN: 1524-8399; 1552-6372
• DOI: 10.1177/1524839909332139

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Half of Americans older than age 50 are not current with recommended screening; research is needed to assess the impact of interventions designed to increase receipt of CRC screening. The Colorectal Cancer Screening in Primary-Care (C-TRIP) study is a theoretically informed group randomized trial within 32 primary care practices. Baseline median proportion of active patients aged 50 years or older up-to-date with CRC screening among the 32 practices was 50.8% (N = 55,746). Men were more likely to have been screened than women (52.9% vs. 49.2%, respectively). Patients 50 to 59 years of age were less likely to be up-to-date with screening (45.4%) than those in the 60 to 69 years and 70 to 79 years groups (58.5% in both groups). Opportunities exist to increase the proportion of CRC screening received in adults aged 50 and older. C-TRIP evaluates the effectiveness of a model for improvement for increasing this proportion.