Interventions to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Uptake in Rural Settings: A Scoping Review.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Preventive Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• An estimated 6,000 preventable cancer deaths, including colorectal cancer (CRC), occurred in rural America in 2022.
• CRC screening is crucial for prevention and early detection, but national rates lag behind Healthy People 2030 objectives.
• Rural settings present unique and persistent barriers to CRC screening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of interventions aimed at increasing CRC screening in primarily rural US settings.
• To categorize and describe the types and effectiveness of these interventions.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of US-based studies published from January 2010 to May 2024.
• Interventions were categorized using strategies recommended by the US Community Preventive Services Task Force for multicomponent interventions.

Main Results:

• 36 out of 508 identified publications met inclusion criteria; most were multicomponent interventions.
• The majority of studies reported an increase in CRC screening uptake.
• Commonly used intervention approaches included client reminders, small media, and reducing structural barriers like patient navigation.

Conclusions:

• This review offers insights into CRC screening intervention implementation in rural areas.
• Limited geographic representation suggests an opportunity to enhance the dissemination and implementation of effective CRC screening interventions in rural settings.
• Improving CRC screening in rural populations can reduce cancer incidence and mortality.