Spotlight on Year 4

CRCCP Reach After 4 Years

During the first 4 years of CDC’s Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP), award recipients worked with 831 clinics from 261 health systems that served more than 1.3 million patients aged 50 to 75. Most of the clinics (71%) were federally qualified health centers (FQHCs); more than a quarter (26%) were in nonmetropolitan areas; and 26% served a high percentage (more than 20%) of patients without insurance.

Screening Rate Increases After 4 Years in CRCCP

The longer the clinics participate in the CRCCP, the greater the increase from baseline in their colorectal cancer screening rates. Clinics that participated for 2 years increased their screening rate by 8.2 percentage points on average, while those that participated for 4 years increased their screening rate by 12.3 percentage points on average.

EBI Use and Sustainability

CRCCP award recipients can implement as many as 4 evidence-based interventions (EBIs)—strategies proven to be effective in increasing screening—in clinics: provider reminders, patient reminders, removal of structural barriers, and provider assessment and feedback. A CDC study based on the first year of the CRCCP found that implementing 3 to 4 EBIs was associated with higher colorectal cancer screening rates.

Screening Champion and Policy

CDC’ study also found that having a champion for colorectal cancer screening or having a colorectal cancer screening policy was associated with higher colorectal cancer screening rates.

While the percentage of clinics with a screening policy (written clinic procedures to support screening) increased among clinics with longer program participation, the percentage with a champion has fluctuated over time, although the percentage has remained relatively high.