Abstract
Background: Currently, Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most diagnosed cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States for both men and women (Siegel, et al., 2017). Yet, CRC is one of the most preventable cancers in the world. The purpose of this quality improvement project (QI) was to evaluate the intent to screen patients for CRC in the primary care setting (PCS) and to evaluate the patient on their education of CRC.|Methods: This QI project aimed to improve completion of CRC screening in the Primary Care Setting (PCS) to identify patients who need to be screened for CRC. Patients were educated in two ways, a pre-quiz and information pamphlet. The project also sought to identify the providers comfort level of screening patients for CRC by a pre- and post-Likert scale.|Sample/Setting: The project took place in a PCS in the Midwest. Twelve patients agreed to be in the study. The age range includes patients aged from 45 to 60 with a median age of 49.
Results: The results of this project showed two major themes:|1. providers in the clinic felt comfortable discussing and providing information about CRC screening methods and|2. patients in this project were at the national average for being up to date on CRC screening as well as understanding the risks of CRC.|Conclusion: This project supported the importance of CRC screening in the PCS. A larger study may help to identify what factors are inhibiting patients to complete CRC screenings as well as what factors are preventing providers from directing their patients to complete CRC screenings.|Keywords: Colorectal cancer (CRC), screening, primary care