title: Promoting colorectal cancer screening through group education in community-based settings.
abstract: National colonoscopy adherence rates near 65% and New York City (NYC) colonoscopy rates approach 69%. Despite an overall increase in national colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates, rates of CRC screening among Blacks and Latinos are lower than non-Latino Whites. We developed two group level, culturally targeted educational programs about CRC for Blacks and Latinos. One hour programs included education about screening, peer testimony given by a colonoscopy-adherent person, and pre- and post-knowledge assessment. From 2010 to 2012, we conducted 66 education programs in NYC, reaching 1,065 participants, 62.7% of whom were 50 years of age or older identified as Black or Latino and provided information about colonoscopy history (N = 668). Colonoscopy adherence in the sample was 69.3%. There was a significant increase in mean knowledge score about CRC and CRC screening from pretest to posttest. Sixty-eight percent of attendees without prior colonoscopy reported intent to schedule a colonoscopy as a result of attending the program. Culturally targeted education programs with peer testimony are a valuable way to raise awareness about CRC and colonoscopy and can influence intent to screen among nonadherent persons. Additional research is needed to establish group level education as an effective means of promoting CRC screening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1130, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Crookes
authors.forename: Ogo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Njoku
authors.forename: Maria Carina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Elsa Iris
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jandorf
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment