Original Report

Impact of a literacy-sensitive intervention on CRC screening knowledge, attitudes, and intention to screen


 

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates remain low, especially among low-income populations.

Objective To determine if a CRC screening intervention (video, brochure) improves knowledge about CRC and CRC screening, attitudes toward screening, and intention to complete CRC screening among average-risk adults with different health literacy skills, seeking medical care at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).

Methods Average-risk adults (50 years or older) who were not within CRC screening guidelines completed face-to-face pre- and post-intervention interviews that focused on knowledge about CRC and CRC screening, attitudes toward CRC screening, and intention to complete CRC screening.

Results Of the 270 participants, 64% were women, 72% were black/African American, 86% were not married, 79% had an annual household income of <$20,000, and 57% did not have health insurance. Reading levels by Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine health literacy test were: 3rd grade or lower, 17 participants (6.3%); 4th-6th grade, 27 (10.0%); 7th-8th grade, 101 (37.4 %); and high school, 125 (46.3%). CRC screening knowledge mean score improved, and perceived CRC susceptibility and self-efficacy to complete screening significantly increased, irrespective of health literacy (all P < .01). There were no significant changes in other attitudes or intention to complete screening.

Limitations The study was conducted in a single FQHC, so the results may not be generalizable to other health centers or populations of low-income and minority patients.

Conclusion A CRC screening intervention improved CRC screening knowledge and attitudes across levels of health literacy and may be an important strategy for improving CRC screening in the primary care setting. Funding National Cancer Institute K07 CA107079 (Ohio State University) and P30 CA016058 (Behavioral Measurement Shared Resource at The Ohio State University).

Click on the PDF icon at the top of this introduction to read the full article.

Recommended Reading

Cancer survivors report two times greater medication use for anxiety and depression
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
Oral bacterium linked to poor esophageal cancer survival
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
Surgical infections, early discharge hike readmissions in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
Lower mortality with left-sided colon tumors
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
Clinician fatigue not associated with adenoma detection rates in community-based setting
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
New scale bests Milan criteria in predicting posttransplant HCC recurrence
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
Study eyed zinc for slowing progression of chronic liver disease
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
SNP predicts liver cancer in hepatitis C patients regardless of SVR
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
Emergent colon cancer resection does not negatively affect patient outcomes
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
Tumor boards linked to improved survival in hepatocellular carcinoma
MDedge Hematology and Oncology