Colon Cancer Awareness Posters - Theyʼre Not Just for Screening Anymore

Abstract

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important cause of preventable mortality in the United States but screening can mitigate these risks. Efforts have been made to increase screening individuals in eligible adults. However, those who have had adenomatous polyps recommended to have colonoscopies at shorter intervals compared to the general population. This study evaluated the effect of a visual colorectal cancer screening awareness campaign on the rate of surveillance colonoscopy at an urban university gastroenterology practice. Methods: A colon cancer awareness campaign was conducted for one month at a university medical center. Signs addressing the importance of CRC screening and colonoscopy were placed at the internal medicine and gastroenterology registration desks, waiting rooms, and examination rooms. Using an electronic health record, a retrospective review of colonoscopies performed at an academic medical center for a two month period beginning with the campaign and for the same two months in the prior year. Patient demographics, procedure indication and colonoscopy findings were obtained. Statistical analysis was conducted, with significance set at p< 0.05. Results: In the two months after starting the campaign, there were 838 colonoscopies; 242 (25.6%) were for surveillance of polyps, 392 (46.8%) for screening, and 204 (24.3% for diagnostic indications. During the same two month period in 2015 (before the intervention), the same physicians performed 677 colonoscopies; 160 (23.6%) surveillance, 286 (42.2%) screening, and 231 (34.1%) diagnostic procedures. There was a significant increase in the rate of surveillance colonoscopies relative to screening procedures (p=0.0003) and diagnostic procedures (p=0.0001). Conclusion: This study revealed that a campaign to promote undergoing an initial colorectal cancer screening may also remind individuals to undergo their surveillance procedures. While this is a limited study based upon single institution design and sample size, it revealed that the conduction of a colon cancer awareness campaigns can optimize adherence to surveillance recommendations. Simple, office-based strategies can be effective in encouraging procedures for early colon cancer detection.