Improving Rates of Diagnostic Colonoscopy in Native Americans

PURPOSE AND/OR HYPOTHESIS:

The proposed study is segmented into two study Stages. Stage 1 incorporates Study Aim 1, which will use focus groups to co-develop a digital outreach intervention with Native Americans. Focus groups will help better understand how the investigators can support timely screening for colorectal cancer in this community. This IRB submission is seeking OUHSC IRB approval to conduct Stage 1. Before conducting any data collection, the investigators will seek IHS Tribal IRB approval. Once approval has been received from both OUHSC and IHS IRB, analysis of the data collected from Stage 1 will then be used to inform Stage 2. To ensure NIH funding of this grant, OUHSC IRB approval must be achieved by November 30, 2025.

Stage 2 incorporates Study Aims 2 and 3. For those aims, the investigators will test the reach, feasibility, and potential efficacy of digital outreach intervention strategies (Aim 2) and the penetration, acceptability, and scalability of the digital outreach intervention strategies (Aim 3). Dr. Neil will submit an IRB modification to both OUHSC and IHS IRBs after data analysis from Stage 1 has been completed and prior to conducting any human subjects research in Stage 2.

Native Americans (NA) endure a disproportionate burden of colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and CRC-specific mortality. Screening is an effective early detection strategy to decrease preventable CRC-related deaths, but NA have some of the lowest CRC screening rates. In Oklahoma, only 51% of NA are up to date with screening compared to nearly two-thirds of eligible US adults. Efforts to reduce disparities in screening rates have focused on increasing access to home stool screening. However, approximately one-half of NA in Oklahoma with an abnormal home stool test do not complete a required follow-up diagnostic colonoscopy. As time to colonoscopy after an abnormal home stool test is associated with greater diagnosis of late-stage disease and CRC mortality, innovative strategies are needed to increase rates of timely diagnostic colonoscopy follow up among NA in Oklahoma. The proposed study leverages an existing relationship with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes to co-develop and pilot test two digital outreach interventions to increase rates of diagnostic colonoscopy. First, mobile health outreach (mHealth; SMS text and video messages) will attempt to increase motivation to schedule a diagnostic colonoscopy. In addition to receiving informational texts about how and why to schedule a colonoscopy, participants will also receive culturally sensitive videos that use personal narratives from NA patients and other high-status Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal members (e.g., elders). Second, current clinic workflow requires Cheyenne and Arapaho patients to visit the colonoscopy clinical facilities for both a pre-visit appointment and the actual procedure. This process requires a minimum of two round trips to a colonoscopy facility of over 90 miles for most patients. The investigators will test whether a pre-visit telehealth consultation reduces transportation barriers. Our overarching hypothesis is that culturally sensitive digital outreach intervention will increase motivation, reduce structural barriers, and, thus, improve rates of diagnostic colonoscopy.

The first study aim will co-develop culturally sensitive digital outreach intervention strategies, guided by four focus groups of NA patients (6 participants per group, with a total of 24 participants) and a community advisory board.

The second study aim will determine reach, feasibility, and potential efficacy of intervention strategies testing an mHealth outreach vs. informational pamphlet and a telehealth vs. in-person pre-visit colonoscopy consultation among 140 NA patients. The primary outcome is potential efficacy, measured as rates of diagnostic colonoscopy 60 days post-randomization. The third aim will explore penetration, acceptability, and scalability of digital outreach intervention strategies. If effective, this first-of-its-kind and highly scalable approach offers a substantial public health impact to reduce avoidable CRC morbidity and mortality among NA patients by increasing rates of diagnostic colonoscopy.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:

For Stage 1, there is no experimental design.

For Stage 2, Aim 2 will use a 2 x 2 factorial design: (Outreach Type, Factor 1) mHealth outreach vs. informational pamphlet; (Consultation Type, Factor 2) telehealth vs. in-person pre-visit colonoscopy consultation. The primary outcome is potential efficacy, measured as rates of diagnostic colonoscopy 60 days post-randomization. The third aim will explore penetration, acceptability, and scalability of digital outreach intervention strategies.

PROPOSED PROCEDURE:

For Stage 1, Aim 1, the proposed procedure is broken into three Phases. Phase 1 will co-develop the mHealth Outreach (i.e., SMS texts and videos) content in 4 focus groups (n=6-8 per group) of NA from in Oklahoma that from IHS Clinton Service Unit. Groups will be stratified by history of diagnostic colonoscopy (yes/no). Phase 2 will create the mHealth outreach message library. Phase 3 will employ a community advisory board (CAB) to discuss how best to integrate mHealth and Telehealth interventions into clinic workflows.

IMPORTANCE OF KNOWLEDGE REASONABLY EXPECTED TO RESULT FROM THE RESEARCH:

The long-term goal of this collaboration is to enhance health equity through the reduction of CRC disparities in morbidity, mortality, stage-at-diagnosis, and survival among NA. To do so, the primary focus of these efforts has been to improve processes that increase uptake of colorectal cancer screening and improve rates of timely diagnostic colonoscopy follow up after an abnormal home stool screening.