Choice of screening modality in a colorectal cancer education and screening program for the uninsured.
BACKGROUND
Starting in 2001, the state of Maryland established a carefully planned and executed multicomponent intervention to reduce mortality and disparities in colorectal cancer.


METHODS
In the most populous county, uninsured participants received education and a choice of free screening by fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) or colonoscopy or both.


RESULTS
Over 2 years, a group of 1,672 uninsured individuals, of whom 90% were minorities, registered with the program. Overall, screening uptake was 41% with colonoscopy, 10% with FOBT, and 10% with both FOBT and colonoscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
The choices of colorectal cancer screening modalities by a diverse uninsured population demonstrates the importance of maintaining screening options.
Sarfaty
Mona
M
Department of Prevention and Community Health, George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Washington, DC, USA. mona.sarfaty@jefferson.edu
Feng
Shibao
S
D018256:Adenomatous Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology; D019090:Case Management; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000191:economics; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006265:Health Care Coalitions / Q000458:organization & administration; D006266:Health Education / Q000191:economics; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008037:Linguistics; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012042:Registries