Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Academic Detailing To Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening By Primary Care Practices In Appalachian Pennsylvania, William J. Curry, Eugene J. Lengerich, Brenda C. Kluhsman, Marie A. Graybill, Jason Z. Liao, Eric W. Schaefer, Angela M. Spleen, Mark B. Dignan

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: In the United States, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer and second leading cause of cancer death. Screening is a primary method to prevent CRC, yet screening remains low in the U.S. and particularly in Appalachian Pennsylvania, a largely rural area with high rates of poverty, limited health care access, and increased CRC incidence and mortality rates. Receiving a physician recommendation for CRC screening is a primary predictor for patient adherence with screening guidelines. One strategy to disseminate practice-oriented interventions is academic detailing (AD), a method that transfers knowledge or methods to physicians, nurses or …