Making it work: health care provider perspectives on strategies to increase colorectal cancer screening in federally qualified health centers.
Colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) rates are low among men and women who seek health care at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). This study explores health care providers' perspectives about their patient's motivators and impediments to CRCS and receptivity to preparatory education. A mixed methods design consisting of in-depth interviews, focus groups, and a short survey is used in this study. The participants of this study are 17 health care providers practicing in FQHCs in the Tampa Bay area. Test-specific patient impediments and motivations were identified including fear of abnormal findings, importance of offering less invasive fecal occult blood tests, and need for patient-centered test-specific educational materials in clinics. Opportunities to improve provider practices were identified including providers' reliance on patients' report of symptoms as a cue to recommend CRCS and overemphasis of clinic-based guaiac stool tests. This study adds to the literature on CRCS test-specific motivators and impediments. Providers offered unique approaches for motivating patients to follow through with recommended CRCS and were receptive to in-clinic patient education. Findings readily inform the design of educational materials and interventions to increase CRCS in FQHCs.
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA, Clement.Gwede@Moffitt.org.
Clement K
CK
Gwede
Stacy N
SN
Davis
Gwendolyn P
GP
Quinn
Alexis M
AM
Koskan
Jamila
J
Ealey
Rania
R
Abdulla
Susan T
ST
Vadaparampil
Gloria
G
Elliott
Diana
D
Lopez
David
D
Shibata
Richard G
RG
Roetzheim
Cathy D
CD
Meade
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D035082:Federal Government; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States