Blood-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening: Implementation Into 2 Appalachian Primary Care Clinics

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality globally and in the U.S.
• Appalachia exhibits lower CRC screening rates and higher incidence/mortality compared to other U.S. regions.
• Addressing disparities in CRC screening is a critical public health objective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of offering a blood-based screening test on CRC screening rates.
• To determine if a blood-based test is a preferred screening method compared to standard options.
• To assess the effectiveness of novel screening approaches in underserved populations.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study was conducted in two primary care clinics over two 3-month phases.
• Phase 1 utilized standard-of-care CRC screening options (n=74).
• Phase 2 introduced a blood-based test alongside standard options (n=165), with data collected and analyzed in 2024.

Main Results:

• Overall completed CRC screening rates significantly increased from Phase 1 (n=33) to Phase 2 (n=151).
• In Phase 2, the blood-based test was highly preferred over standard-of-care options (134 vs. 29 participants).
• The introduction of the blood-based test demonstrated a substantial positive effect on screening participation.

Conclusions:

• A blood-based test, offered as a routine screening option, markedly improved CRC screening rates.
• Patient preference strongly favored the blood-based test over traditional screening methods.
• This approach shows potential for enhancing CRC screening adherence and outcomes in average-risk adults.