Abstract C129: Evaluating the effectiveness of a multi-level patient navigation approach for multiple cancer screening types in a South Carolina academic health system

Abstract Background: South Carolina ranks 15th highest in the nation for cancer mortality rates. Improving cancer screening rates could help to reduce these mortality rates. Unfortunately, Black and rural people in South Carolina have higher cancer incidence and mortality rates, and lower cancer screening rates than other population groups. Methods: To address these differences in screening rates, the investigators are testing the effects of a centralized, protocol-driven patient navigation intervention in reducing cancer screening barriers. Participants are randomly selected from a statewide health system in South Carolina based on their overdue status for guideline-supported cancer screening, oversampling for rural residence. Results: Since the inception of the one-arm study on 10/20/2023, 1,795 patients have been randomly selected. As of 01/31/2025, 603 participants (33.6%) have been contacted by the navigators and found to be eligible for the study. The racial/ethnic background of the participants is Black (41.6%, n=251), White (52.9%, n=319), Asian (1.3%, n=8), Hispanic/Latino (1.2%, n=7), and Other (3%, n=18); 82% of the participants are women, 83.3% are rural residents, the mean age is 57 years (21-80 years, s.d. = 9.4 years), and 95.2% are insured. Of the 603 participants, 287 participants (47.6%) were navigated to cancer screening within the health system or outside of the health system (n=209 and 78, respectively). Conclusions: Nearly 50% of the study participants have been successfully navigated to cancer screening and the remainder are currently being navigated to screening. The navigators address the health-related screening needs of the participants by reminding them of the importance of cancer screening, contacting their primary care providers to obtain cancer screening orders for the participants, assisting them with scheduling their cancer screening appointments, and sharing information about available transportation resources. The intervention could serve as a national model for promoting cancer screening. Citation Format: Marvella E. Ford, Michael Balassone, Jessica Zserai, Megan R. Ellison, Amber S. McCoy, Shelbie Lewandowski, Nina Premselaar, Skye King, Rachel Anderson, Gerard Silvestri. Evaluating the effectiveness of a multi-level patient navigation approach for multiple cancer screening types in a South Carolina academic health system [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(9 Suppl):Abstract nr C129.