The overall goal of this study is to develop a comprehensive, culturally tailored community-based colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention model with a dual emphasis on reducing CRC risk along with its CVD risk factors. The study intervention has two components: Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) to address CRC screening and a web-based lifestyle program called "Alive!" to address CVD risk factors linked to CRC. The C.H.U.R.C.H. Trial (Community Health workers (CHW) United to Reduce Colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease among people at Higher risk) has four specific aims: (1) to compare the effect of a CHW-Led SBIRT (Intervention) to Referral As Usual (RAU) (Usual Care) on guideline-concordant CRC screening uptake; (2) to evaluate the effect of a Culturally Adapted CHW-linked Alive! (CACA) program incorporated into the intervention arm on dietary inflammatory score (DIS); (3) to evaluate the effect of CACA on changes in Life Simple-7 (LS7) scores; and (4) to examine the multi-level contextual mechanisms and factors influencing CHW effectiveness, reach, and implementation of CRC screening uptake and CACA activities through a mixed-methods process evaluation. Given the broad reach and influence of churches, results from this study can be used to inform future scale up of this multi-pronged intervention.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most lethal cancer in the U.S with the highest incidence and mortality rates among African Americans (AAs) compared to other racial groups. Despite these disparities, which includes premature mortality, AAs are the least likely to undergo CRC screening, have precancerous colorectal polys removed, and have CRC detected at stages early enough for curative excision. Lower screening rates are linked to the downstream effects of structural inequities such as access to care, knowledge of screening options and benefits, health system mistrust, fear and anxiety. Although reducing the burden of CRC is best accomplished by screening, compelling evidence links inflammatory diets and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors to increased CRC risk. This proposal aims to develop a community-based prevention model to reduce CRC and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among AAs.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
880
SBIRT is an evidence-based approach originally designed for people at risk of developing mental disorders. SBIRT is composed of three components: Screening with a validated instrument, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an empirically tested, person-centered, behavior change intervention designed to guide, elicit, and strengthen motivation for change. It decreases ambivalence and increases motivation for treatment. The investigators will utilize the Culturally-adapted Alive! Program - a cost-effective, lifestyle coaching web-based automated platform that includes step-by-step individualized tailoring, feedback, and weekly guidance through interactive emails focused on increasing physical activity, improving eating habits, and weight control.
Referral as Usual will involve distributing CRC health educational materials (e.g. NCI or CDC brochures that include new guidelines) and contact information for screening service providers in our target community.
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
New York, New York, United States
RECRUITINGCRC Screening Uptake
Screening uptake (clinic-based colonoscopy or home-based stool test) (Primary Outcome) is the subject's self-report of completing a CRC screening test plus the research team's verification of this completion from medical records.
Time frame: 6 months post-screening
Change in Dietary Inflammatory Score (Dietary Screening Measure)
Assessment of participant eating habits via the culturally-adapted ALIVE! program will be captured by the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) that generates the dietary inflammatory score (DIS) which can be used to examine associations between inflammatory diets, cardiovascular diseases and colorectal cancer.
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months post-screening
Change in Life's Simple 7 Score (CVD Risk Screening Measure)
Evaluation of CVD risk factors using the Life Simple-7 (LS7) measure. LS7 scores range from 0 to 14 and are calculated from the composite of the factor scores. CVD health is then classified as inadequate (0-4), average (5-9), or optimum (10-14). Achieving a greater number of ideal LS7 metrics is associated with lower risk of dying after stroke and all cause cardiovascular mortality in a dose dependent manner.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months post-screening and 1 year post-screening
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