Abstract C38: Increasing colorectal cancer screening in rural populations: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Abstract Background: Research demonstrates that early detection through recommended screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) yields favorable treatment outcomes; however, screening rates remain low, particularly in rural communities. Residents of rural communities have unique barriers to health care that often result in poorer health outcomes. Targeted interventions to increase CRC screening are needed to tackle barriers to preventive health behaviors among individuals in rural communities. Methods: A systematic literature search of PubMed/Medline was performed to identify CRC screening interventions conducted in rural communities. English language articles from peer-reviewed journals published from January 2006 to December 2016 were included if they reported results for CRC screening interventions in rural communities in the United States. Results: Of the 358 articles abstracted, 29 met the inclusion criteria. The studies detailed interventions in rural settings, particularly among populations with low CRC screening rates including American Indians/Alaska Natives, African Americans, and uninsured individuals. Studies varied in design and mode of intervention delivery; however, interventions emphasizing community-based participatory research principles yielded improved CRC screening adherence. Interventions to increase CRC screening included communication campaigns, home-based screening, and patient navigation. Few interventions included a theoretical foundation or information on cost-effectiveness. Conclusions: More research is needed to examine the theoretical framework, design, delivery, and cost-effectiveness of CRC screening interventions for rural populations. Additional assessment is needed to determine how effectively these interventions can be translated to different types of rural settings. Synthesis of this literature may inform efforts to develop targeted interventions to increase CRC screening in rural populations. Citation Format: Joelle Atere-Roberts, Ingrid J. Hall, Judith Lee Smith. Increasing colorectal cancer screening in rural populations: A systematic literature review [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr C38.