S697 Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates: A Quality Improvement Initiative

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in the U.S., yet adherence to screening remains suboptimal despite widely available and effective methods. At our primary care clinic, we observed that many patients referred for screening did not complete it, largely due to a limited understanding of available tests and the importance of early detection. Our quality improvement initiative aimed to increase screening completion by providing clear, patient-centered educational materials at the point of referral. Methods: At primary care clinics, we distributed patient-friendly pamphlets from the American College of Gastroenterology’s CRC Community Education Toolkit during visits and in waiting areas. These explained the importance of screening and outlined available methods (colonoscopy, FIT, stool DNA). Clinic staff provided brief verbal reinforcement. We compared CRC screening completion rates from a baseline one-month period before implementation to those referred 6 months post-intervention. Results: Prior to the educational initiative, only 35% of referred patients completed CRC screening. Six months following implementation, the rate increased to 84%, demonstrating a substantial improvement in adherence. This outcome suggests that the combination of clear educational materials and provider reinforcement effectively addressed common barriers to screening. Conclusion: Incorporating American College of Gastroenterology’s educational toolkit into primary care significantly boosted CRC screening rates. Simple interventions at the point of care can lead to measurable improvements in preventive health behaviors. We aim to integrate digital materials and automated reminders to maintain progress.