Medical Student Rowan-Virtual School of Osteopathic Medicine Voorhees Township, New Jersey
Background and Hypothesis: Colorectal cancer (CRC), breast cancer (BrCa), and cervical cancer are three of the most preventable cancers. However, despite the known significance for early detection and treatment of these cancers, barriers to screening remain. We developed a medical student-led project to improve adherence to national cancer screening guidelines in patients across the Rowan-Virtua Family Medicine practices. This study assesses the initiative’s efficacy in improving adherence to CRC, BrCa, and cervical cancer screenings.
Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of a quality improvement project. Rowan-Virtua FM patients between the ages of 21-75 (n=735) were identified as due or up-to-date on cancer screenings based on chart review. Student volunteers were trained to contact patients to discuss options for overdue screenings and place corresponding referrals. Patient demographics such as sex, age, and race/ethnicity were collected. Outcomes included patient eligibility, number and rates of patients reached, referrals placed, and up-to-date patients.
Results: Among the 735 patients, mean (sd) age was 57.9 (11.5), 71.2% were female, 55.8% were white, 15.5% were Black, 4.4% were Hispanic, 1.4% were Asian and 23.4% did not specify their race or ethnicity. Per chart review, 643 (87.5%) patients were due for at least one cancer screening. Of 323 (50.2%) patients reached via phone, 30.7% received at least one referral for cancer screening, 23.2% reported being up to date on screenings, and 46.1% declined screening. A total of 28 colonoscopy, 38 stool DNA test, 38 mammogram, and 30 pap smear referrals were placed among 99 patients. 28 patients received referrals for more than one screening.
Conclusion: This osteopathic medical student-led outreach project successfully promoted increased adherence to national cancer screening guidelines. This service project can be used as a framework to establish similar initiatives at other institutions to reduce gaps in preventative care, which is a highlight of the osteopathic philosophy.
Acknowledgement of Research Study Sponsors and IRB: The protocol of this study was reviewed and approved by the Rowan Institutional Review Board (PRO-2022-255)
