Revista de Enfermagem e Cuidados com o Paciente

Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening and Testing in a Primary Care Clinic: An Evidence-Based Quality Improvement Initiative

Leslie M. DuBois

Worldwide, Colorectal cancer was the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer related deaths in 2018 (World Health Organization, 2019). The American Cancer Society (2019) estimated that there will be 145,600 new cases and 51,020 deaths in 2019 in the United States. The aim of this performance improvement project is to determine the effectiveness of multiple interventions with the purpose of increasing the proportion of patients who meet criteria and complete colorectal cancer screening per the United States Preventive Services Task Force (2016) recommendations. The objectives are to increase the number receiving the fecal immunochemical test and has results in the electronic health record and increase the percentage with documentation of disposition for follow up testing for positive fecal immunochemical tests. The interventions and evaluations are: staff completing a survey and receiving education on Colorectal cancer screening; tracking of fecal immunochemical tests ordered, distributed and completed by entering a date for negative or positive results; and the notification and recommendation/disposition of those patients who complete the fecal immunochemical test and have a “positive” result by tracking the date of the “positive” result and the date the Gastroenterology referral was made. Health Resources and Services Administration provides funding to the organization for preventative services based on performance on colorectal cancer screening. Colorectal cancer is the most preventable and least prevented cancer and the impact of improving colorectal cancer screening will improve patient outcomes by preventing and decreasing disability and mortality from colorectal cancer.