Lessons learned from a colorectal cancer faith-based educational program

For many communities, and particularly for African Americans (AA) living in the southeast United States, churches, or faith communities, play a significant role in people's lives. Ministers and other church leaders have recognized the importance and relevance of health as a legitimate concern for the church. As a result, many churches have adopted health as a missionary objective of their congregation or denomination. The Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention reports anyone can get colorectal cancer (CRC), but it usually strikes people over age 50, and the risk quickly goes up with age. AAs have higher CRC incidence and mortality rates than whites. They are also more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage disease and less likely to survive for at least five years after diagnosis. Lack of adherence to CRC screening recommendations has previously been found to be associated with lower income, lower educational level, and racial/ethnic minority status. The State Baptist YWA, in collaboration with the SC Cancer Alliance, conducted CRC educational sessions to educate and encourage colorectal screening in twenty AA churches. Process evaluation results reveal 31% of respondents intending to get screened, 49% continuing to get screened, 5% consulting with personal physician, with 5% missing data. Knowledge and experience gained was used to inform two successful NIH grant applications involving CRC screening within AA communities of faith. Both were funded by the NCMHD CTR and are five-year projects where participants are enrolled through communities of faith and receive colorectal cancer education and screening.