Optimizing Preventive Care: The Impact of a Student-Led Initiative to Improve Cancer Screenings in Primary Care

Context: Preventative health measures, including routine cancer screenings, are essential for early detection, timely treatment, and reduction of cancer mortality rates. Colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer are among the most routinely screened cancers due to advancements in screening technologies1. However, despite the well-established importance of early detection, patient adherence and compliance with national guidelines remain suboptimal, limiting the effectiveness of these screening efforts and delaying possible treatment.2 Objective: To address this issue, we initiated a medical student-led project focused on improving adherence to national cancer screening guidelines across Rowan-Virtua Family Medicine (FM) practices. This poster outlines the overall efficacy of this project, including penetration rate into the patient population, closure of care gaps, and outcomes of screening and detection. Methods: The study is a prospective interventional cohort study. Rowan-Virtua Family Medicine patients between the ages of 21-80 (n=911) were identified between January 1, 2023 to February 1, 2025 as overdue on cancer screenings based on chart review. Participants were excluded (n=3) if they were deceased or were no longer patients of Rowan-Virtua FM. Student volunteers contacted patients to discuss options for overdue screenings and inform patients of current national cancer screening guidelines. Patients were given the option to make their screening appointment, obtain a referral from the clinic, or decline screening. Patient demographics including sex, age, race/ethnicity, and insurance type were collected. Outcomes included patient eligibility, number and rates of patients reached, up-to-date patients, referrals placed, completion rates for referrals, and abnormal screening findings occurrence. Results: Among the 908 patients included in this analysis, the average age was 60.96 (SD: 9.52), 74.01% were female, 63.33% were white, 15.75% were Black, 3.19% were Hispanic, 2.97% were Asian and 14.76% did not specify their race/ethnicity. Per chart review, 822 (90.53%) patients were identified as being due for at least one cancer screening. Of those patients, 386 (46.96%) patients reached via telephone, 28.5% received at least one referral for cancer screening, 13.73% reported being up-to-date on screenings, 19.17% reported they already had a referral and would make an appointment, and 38.6% declined screening. A total of 47 colonoscopy, 39 Cologuard® test, 48 mammogram, and 22 pap smear referrals were placed among 110 patients. 41.81% (46 out of 110) received referrals for more than one screening. Of the patients who received referrals, 54.55% of patients went on to receive at least one of their recommended screenings. The completion rates for referrals were as follows: 40.43% for colonoscopies, 41.03% for Cologuard, 56.25% for mammograms, and 45.45% for pap smears. Of the patients who completed their screenings, the rate of positive findings was as follows: 63.16% for colonoscopies, 18.75% for Cologuard, 33.33% for mammograms, and 0% for pap smears. Conclusion: This project emphasizes the crucial role of primary care in promoting adherence to preventive health screening guidelines and highlights the importance of patient outreach in improving compliance. Notably, among the patients who completed their screenings, abnormal results were detected, necessitating further management or increased future surveillance. These findings underscore the critical role of routine screenings in early detection and intervention. Moving forward, continued efforts to educate patients on the importance of cancer screenings, increasing awareness of guidelines, and addressing barriers to screening access will be essential to further improve patient adherence and promote holistic care. This study also demonstrates the crucial impact that trained and engaged medical students can have in the closure of care gaps and improvement of preventive screening outcomes in the primary care setting.