Review of 12 studies finds community-based, individually-tailored programs can be effective
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Though African-Americans are less likely than other ethnic groups to be screened for colorectal cancer (CRC), interventions employing individually-tailored communications delivered in multiple ways and at multiple times may effectively improve screening rates, according to a review in the November/December issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion.
Barbara D. Powe, Ph.D., of the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, and colleagues reviewed the medical literature for 2000 to 2008 and evaluated 12 studies that assessed interventions to increase African-American CRC screening.
The study interventions focused on recruitment from senior centers, housing projects, churches, and health care centers, and direct and indirect strategies were used to identify the barriers to CRC screening among African-Americans. The researchers found that interventions were most successful in increasing the screening rate when they targeted communities or individuals, addressed known screening barriers, included tailored messages, were delivered at multiple times, and used multiple message delivery methods.
"It is still unclear, however, which barriers are the most crucial to be addressed in order to enhance the success of the intervention. Research is needed to identify interventions to increase screen-rescreen rates annual screening tests. Research is also needed to better understand barriers that influence whether providers recommend screening," the authors write.
Abstract