title: Understanding colorectal screening behaviors and factors associated with screening in a community hospital setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. More than 2,000 Kentuckians are diagnosed with CRC annually, and more than 800 die from the disease. Little research has been conducted in Kentucky to better understand why individuals are not screened for CRC and what strategies might encourage them to do so.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of educational materials mailed to participants supporting the need for CRC screening on the decision to complete screening post-hospital discharge. An additional focus was to identify the characteristics of individuals screened and not screened.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 167 adult patients discharged from a 383-bed Magnet-designated hospital. An investigator-designed, semistructured telephone interview was conducted to collect data on research-based factors identified to influence CRC screening rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although not statistically significant, slightly more patients who remembered receiving educational materials in the mail completed screening. Future educational efforts should focus on the importance of screening and financial resource availability.
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Weyl
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yackzan
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Henson
authors.affiliation: Central Baptist Hospital.
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moe
authors.forename: C Preston
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007629:Kentucky; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care
keywords: colorectal cancer screening; education; nurse navigator