title: The FLU-FIT program: an effective colorectal cancer screening program for high volume flu shot clinics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether offering home fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) to eligible patients during a high volume influenza vaccination clinic could lead to increased colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) rates in a managed care setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  During influenza vaccination clinics in 2008, trained staff provided FITs to patients who were eligible for CRCS (FLU-FIT group) (FLU indicates influenza vaccine). Screening outcomes for this cohort of patients were compared with those of a similar group of influenza clinic attendees who were not exposed to the intervention (FLUonly group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among eligible participants in the FLU-only group (N = 4653), 13.7% completed FIT within 90 days of their influenza vaccine, and in the FLU-FIT group (N = 2812), 30.3% completed FIT (P <.0001). In the FLU-FIT group, 1447 (51.4%) were provided with a FIT kit, and 653 (45.1%) of these patients completed a FIT kit within 90 days. In multivariate analyses, FLU-FIT group participants were significantly more likely to complete FITs compared with FLU-only group participants (Odds Ratio = 2.76 [95% confidence interval, 2.45-3.11]). Overall, the CRCS rate for the FLU-only group increased from 51.5% to 56.3% (increase of 4.8 percentage points), compared with an increase from 49.2% to 63.2% (increase of 14.0 percentage points) in the FLU-FIT group (P lt;.0001 for change difference).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The FLU-FIT Program is feasible to implement in a high volume influenza vaccination clinic conducted in a managed care setting and increases colorectal cancer screening activity among eligible influenza vaccination recipients who are reached with the intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California San Francisco, USA. potterm@fcm.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: Carol P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Somkin
authors.forename: Lynn M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ackerson
authors.forename: Vicky
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dao
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Horberg
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Walsh J
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines