How do you encourage underserved populations to get screening colonoscopies?

A new study led by MSK and Mount Sinai researchers addresses this question for more than 300 low-income Latinx individuals living in New York City. A Cancer Network article describes the findings.

The researchers compared three initiatives: patient navigation; patient navigation alongside Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) print materials; and patient navigation with culturally targeted print materials. The authors define patient navigation as the use of a health care professional who helps patients “navigate and obtain medical care.” They found that while patient navigators increased the colonoscopy rate, the addition of either type of print material did not improve uptake of screening colonoscopy.

The authors acknowledge that their study looks at a very specific population and the results may not be generalizable. They call for further research into the effects of patient navigation.