Culturally Tailored Navigator Program for Colorectal Cancer Screening

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

This program uses a culturally tailored intervention to increase colorectal cancer screening among minority racial and ethnic groups that have historically low screening rates. Through the program, a bi-lingual patient navigator works with non-English speaking patients aged 52-79 who are overdue for colorectal cancer screening. The patient navigator educates patients about colorectal cancer and screening methods, and discusses the patient's barriers to screening. The navigators help to schedule appointments, remind patients of appointments, translate preparation instructions, organize transportation to appointments, and accompany patients who do not have a family member available. Following screening, the navigator updates the patients' medical records with screening results. The program has navigators who speak Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, Portuguese, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, and Somali.

Goal / Mission

The goal of this program is to decrease barriers and increase rates for colorectal cancer screening among low-income, non-English speaking patients.

Results / Accomplishments

In a randomized, controlled trial participants in the intervention were compared to a usual care control group. Over a 9-month period, intervention patients were significantly more likely to undergo colorectal cancer screening than control patients (27% vs. 12% for any screening, p < 0.001; 21% vs. 10% for colonoscopy, < 0.001). The higher screening rate resulted in the identification of 10.5 polyps per 100 patients in the intervention group, compared to 6.8 in the control group (p = 0.04).

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Massachusetts General Hospital
Primary Contact
Sanja Percac-Lima
Chelsea HealthCare Center
151 Everett Ave.
Chelsea, MA 02150
(617) 889-8580
spercaclima@partners.org
Topics
Health / Cancer
Health / Prevention & Safety
Health / Health Care Access & Quality
Organization(s)
Massachusetts General Hospital
Source
Journal of General Internal Medicine
Date of publication
Feb 2009
Date of implementation
Jan 2007
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
Boston, MA
For more details
Target Audience
Racial/Ethnic Minorities