Education improves colorectal cancer screening by flexible sigmoidoscopy in an inner city population

OBJECTIVE: The District of Columbia General Hospital has a flexible sigmoid oscopy (FS) colorectal cancer screening program. We noted that this program was underused. The aim of this study was to determine whether education co uld improve use of a flexible sigmoidoscopy screening program in an inner c ity population. METHODS: Patients undergoing screening FS 5 months before our educational i nitiative were compared to patients undergoing screening FS 5 months after implementation. A 1-month period was allowed for implementation. Procedure logs and GI charts were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 121 patients underwent FS screening during our study pe riod. Of the patients, 97% were African-American; 58% were female; and the average age was 61 yr. A total of 50 patients underwent FS in the pre-educa tion group, and 71 patients underwent FS after implementation of our educat ional initiative. CONCLUSIONS: Education resulted in a 42% increase in FS screening in this i nner city, predominantly African-American population. Larger scale educatio nal initiatives should be conducted to determine whether these benefits can persist and can be improved upon. (C) 2000 by Am. Cell. of Gastroenterolog y.