Results from an Evaluation of the Georgia Colorectal Cancer Control Program’s Community Education and Outreach Events, 2013

Abstract

Although public health practitioners commonly use community education and outreach events to promote cancer screening, the effectiveness of this strategy remains unclear. This study evaluated 23 outreach events, conducted as part of the Georgia Colorectal Cancer Control Program. Of the estimated 1778 individuals who attended these events, those ages 50-75 were eligible to participate in a telephone survey 3 months after attending an event. Surveys measured colorectal cancer (CRC) risk status, CRC screening history at the time of the event, seeking or obtaining CRC screening at 3-month follow-up, and participants' knowledge of their CRC screening status. Of the 335 individuals contacted for this evaluation, 185 completed the survey. Eighty participants (43.2 %) were at elevated risk for CRC and 99 participants (53.5 %) were at average risk. Of the 99 average-risk participants, the majority (n = 69) were not due for CRC screening at the time they attended an event because they had previously received screening within the recommended time intervals. Thirty average-risk participants were due for CRC screening, either because they had never been screened before (n = 19) or because they were due for rescreening (n = 11). Approximately half of these 30 participants who were due for screening either sought (n = 6, 20.0 %) or obtained screening (n = 8, 26.7 %) 3 months following the event. Community education and outreach events may play an important role in motivating participants to seek or obtain CRC screening, but unless priority audiences are identified and recruited, events may attract people who are already compliant with CRC screening.

Educational interventions to improve bowel cancer awareness and screening in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries: A scoping review

“…Eight studies used flipcharts to aid awareness and screening education (n = 7 both, n = 1 awareness) although, did not report findings on flipcharts ( Molokwu et al, 2017 , Tong et al, 2017 , Mojica et al, 2016 , Briant et al, 2018 , Chow et al, 2020 , Cassel et al, 2020 , Jo et al, 2017 , Cuaresma et al, 2018 ). Similarly, nine studies used brochures to aid education (n = 1 screening, n = 1 awareness, n = 7 both) although, only five reported brochure-specific findings (findings discussed in this section and below) ( Dominic et al, 2020 , Woodruff et al, 2017 , Naguib et al, 2017 , Jo et al, 2017 , Nguyen et al, 2017 , Cuaresma et al, 2018 , Christy et al, 2016 , Fransen et al, 2017 , Mukherjea et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Twenty-two studies used LCHEE for awareness interventions ( Boutsicaris et al, 2021 , Miguel et al, 2020 , Portilla-Skerrett et al, 2019 , Molina et al, 2018 , Holt et al, 2019 , Maxwell et al, 2019 , Maxwell et al, 2020 , Jenkins et al, 2022 , Molokwu et al, 2017 , Warner et al, 2019 , Dominic et al, 2020 , Gray et al, 2021 , Ou et al, 2019 , Tong et al, 2017 , Woodruff et al, 2017 , Mojica et al, 2016 , Parker et al, 2021 , Cassel et al, 2020 , Jo et al, 2017 , Nguyen et al, 2017 , Cuaresma et al, 2018 , Lucas et al, 2021 ). Nineteen studies showed improvements although, the findings of three were not statistically significant.…”

Accounting for Medicaid expansion and regional policy and programs to advance equity in cancer prevention in the United States

“…We learned that, in 2013, the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education became one of the CRC Control Program (CRCCP) awardees. Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CRCCP has improved screening rates, demonstrating the effectiveness of implementing interventions to improve the overall care delivery of CRC screening services 19,20 . These multipronged efforts in improving cancer control are well illustrated by county‐level changes in screening for all three cancers from 2010 to 2018, using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and National Health Interview Survey data (Figure 3).…”

“…We observed significantly reduced risks of late-stage diagnosis among non-Hispanic White patients with BC in improve the overall care delivery of CRC screening services. 19,20 These multipronged efforts in improving cancer control are well illustrated by county-level changes in screening for all three cancers from 2010 to 2018, using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and National Health Interview Survey data (Figure 3). 21,22 Although county-level changes in BC screening seem comparable between Ohio and Georgia (Figure 3B), we observed a substantial increase in CRC screening in rural counties in Georgia (Figure 3A).…”

Giant Inflatable Colon Model Enhances Lebanese Community Knowledge and Intention for Colorectal Cancer Screening

“…Prior studies have evaluated outreach educational activities and reported that, although they provided insufficient evidence about their effectiveness in increasing screening rates, they led to improvement in CRC knowledge, attitudes, and intentions to secure CRC screening. 14 The results of this CRC educational campaign, which incorporated the use of a giant inflatable colon and focused on raising awareness about CRC and its screening and prevention, would certainly add to the extensive research examining the importance of community educational campaigns as a potential strategy for CRC prevention.…”