Use of Screening Colonoscopy Among Minority Women and Men

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Colorectal Screening

Treatments: Procedure: Colonoscopy and Questionnaire

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00613873

03-066

Details and patient eligibility

About

Colorectal cancer is a cancer in the colon or rectum. Routine screening can find it at an early stage, when it has a much higher chance of cure. Screening can also help to find polyps. These are mushroom shaped growths that could turn into cancer. A polyp can be removed before it turns into cancer. Even though screening can save lives, not enough people in the country are having it. This is especially true in Harlem. Harlem has a higher rate of deaths from this cancer than other places in the U.S. because too many people do not get screened. By the time a person has symptoms, the cancer may be at a late stage, when it is much harder to cure.

We are doing this study to see if we can increase the number of people in Harlem who get screened. We plan to tell women about the screening when they have a mammogram or pap test. We will also ask them what they know and think about colorectal cancer. And, we will see if they get other members of their household to be screened.

Enrollment: 611 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age > or equal to 50
• Availability by telephone

Exclusion criteria

• History of colorectal cancer screening (fecal occult blood testing annually for last 3 years; colonoscopy within the last 10 years)
• History of colorectal cancer
• Serious illness which precludes colonoscopy (severe heart disease; severe pulmonary disease; uncontrolled diabetes; uncontrolled hypertension; other medical contraindication)

Trial design

611 participants in 1 patient group

1

Description:

Women participating in a community based mammography or cervical screening program will also participate in colonoscopy screening. Participation will be measured by stating an interest in colorectal cancer screening and then following through with colonoscopy screening. Furthermore we will assess whether those complying with colonoscopy will also recommend colonoscopy screening for their spouses or household members.

Treatment:

Procedure: Colonoscopy and Questionnaire