Strategies for increasing colorectal cancer screening among African Americans

African Americans bear a disproportionate burden of mortality from colorectal cancer. Because the majority of excess deaths are linked to delayed detection (after the cancer has spread), interventions to promote acceptance of and compliance with screening are urgently needed. This article considers strategies to overcome barriers to screening for colorectal cancer among African Americans. The authors draw attention to the barriers that may be more influential among African Americans than in other groups: for example, fear of cancer, fatalism, reliance on self-care, limited opportunities to screen, and inadequate provider-patient communication. Previous efforts to promote screening for breast cancer and other health behaviors suggest that community-based approaches designed to effect mutually reinforcing changes at the individual, community, and health care system levels may be best suited to raise awareness of colorectal cancer, promote acceptance of screening, and facilitate compliance in African American Communities.