Using a digital health platform to implement a multi-component CRC screening intervention within a federally qualified health center: study protocol for a hybrid type I trial.

Background: Over the past decade, many well-resourced health plans and systems surpassed the 80% colorectal cancer screening rate goal, while lower resource environments such as federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) lag behind. FQHCs in rural areas are especially challenged with limited resources to reach diverse patients who often lack consistent engagement with clinical care. mHealth solutions, like mPATHCRC, can address these challenges by automating tasks and expanding patient outreach.

Centralized Colorectal Cancer Screening Outreach in Federally Qualified Health Centers: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is effective but remains underused in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs).

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a centralized CRC screening outreach intervention involving mailed fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) outreach and patient navigation to colonoscopy after abnormal results of FIT.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A pragmatic randomized clinical trial was conducted, using intention-to-treat analysis.

Optimizing process flow diagrams to guide implementation of a colorectal cancer screening intervention in new settings.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to assess acceptability of using process flow diagrams (or process maps) depicting a previously implemented evidence-based intervention (EBI) to inform the implementation of similar interventions in new settings.

Methods: We developed three different versions of process maps, each visualizing the implementation of the same multicomponent colorectal cancer (CRC) screening EBI in community health centers but including varying levels of detail about how it was implemented. Interviews with community health professionals and practitioners at other sites not affiliated with this intervention were conducted.

Implementation strategies in the Exploration and Preparation phases of a colorectal cancer screening intervention in community health centers.

Background: Adoption of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening has lagged in community health center (CHC) populations in the USA. To address this implementation gap, we developed a multilevel intervention to improve screening in CHCs in our region. We used the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework to guide this effort.

Uptake of colorectal cancer screening after mailed fecal immunochemical test (FIT) outreach in a newly eligible 45-49-year-old community health center population.

Purpose: We assessed fecal immunochemical test (FIT) uptake following a mailed FIT intervention among 45-49-year-olds newly eligible for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening based on 2021 United States Preventive Services Task Force screening recommendations. We also tested the effect of an enhanced versus plain mailing envelope on FIT uptake.

Methods: In February 2022 we mailed FITs to eligible 45-49-year-olds at one Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) clinic.

Centralized colorectal cancer screening outreach and patient navigation for vulnerable populations in North Carolina: study protocol for the SCORE randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is effective in reducing CRC mortality, screening rates in vulnerable populations served by community health centers (CHCs) remain below national targets. CHCs in North Carolina are challenged to reach CRC screening targets as they tend to be under-resourced, have limited capacity to implement and sustain population health interventions, and typically operate independently from one another and from regional colonoscopy providers. The Scaling Colorectal Cancer Screening Through Outreach, Referral, and Engagement (SCORE) project is designed to address barriers to CRC screening in partnership with CHCs by implementing a multilevel intervention that includes centralized support infrastructure for mailed fecal immunochemical test (FIT) outreach and patient navigation to follow-up colonoscopy.

What strategies are used to build practitioners' capacity to implement community-based interventions and are they effective?: a systematic review.

Background: Numerous agencies are providing training, technical assistance, and other support to build community-based practitioners' capacity to adopt and implement evidence-based prevention interventions. Yet, little is known about how best to design capacity-building interventions to optimize their effectiveness. Wandersman et al.

Bridging Research, Practice, and Policy: The "Evidence Academy" Conference Model.

Innovative models to facilitate more rapid uptake of research findings into practice are urgently needed. Community members who engage in research can accelerate this process by acting as adoption agents. We implemented an Evidence Academy conference model bringing together researchers, health care professionals, advocates, and policy makers across North Carolina to discuss high-impact, life-saving study results.

A community-academic partnership to plan and implement an evidence-based lay health advisor program for promoting breast cancer screening.

Despite a growing body of evidence concerning effective approaches to increasing breast cancer screening, the gap between research and practice continues. The North Carolina Breast Cancer Screening Program (NC-BCSP) is an example of an evidence-based intervention that uses trained lay health advisors (LHA) to promote breast cancer screening. Partnerships that link academic researchers knowledgeable about specific evidence-based programs with community-based practitioners offer a model for increasing their use.