Trial Information

Dissemination of Colorectal Cancer Screening to Primary Care Physicians

The purpose of the present study is to adapt and extend the use of academic detailing to the
dissemination of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening findings and guidelines to primary care
physicians practicing in selected geographic areas in New York City. Since improving
implementation of cancer screening guidelines also involves compliance by patients in
completing the recommended tests or examinations, we will also seek to assess knowledge,
attitude and screening behaviors of patients visiting primary care practitioners in our
sample. Our long-term goal is to reduce colorectal cancer mortality among ethnic and racial
minorities, by influencing the screening behaviors of their primary care physicians.

The specific aims of the study are as follows:

- Aim 1. To test the hypothesis that an intervention, multi-component academic detailing,
will increase the rate of physician CRC screening at 3and 6month postrandomization,
compared to the rate observed in a serviceasusual control.

- Aim 2. To develop models predicting which physician offices are most and least likely
to adopt the intervention, and to generate hypotheses about tailoring the dissemination
of CRC screening guidelines to different physician subgroups.

- Aim 3. To conduct cost-effectiveness analysis comparing the incremental societal costs
and effects (in lives saved, life-years saved, and quality-of-life-years saved) of the
CRC intervention implemented in physicians' offices.