Support to help people in rural areas get a colonoscopy
Rural Community Support for Colonoscopy
This project tests whether one-on-one patient navigation helps adults in rural, low-income communities complete a colonoscopy after a positive stool (FIT) test.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11295485 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you live in a rural, low-income community and have a positive fecal immunochemical test (FIT), the program offers personalized patient navigation to help you prepare for and attend a colonoscopy. Navigators provide education about the procedure, motivational coaching, help with scheduling, coordination with providers, and connections to transportation, childcare, or financial resources. The study will compare colonoscopy completion rates among people offered navigation versus usual follow-up to see if navigation increases completion. The main outcome is whether people complete the recommended colonoscopy after a positive FIT.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) who live in rural or low-income communities and have a positive FIT stool test result needing a follow-up colonoscopy are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without a positive FIT, those who already completed their colonoscopy, or those living outside the study's rural catchment areas are unlikely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could increase follow-up colonoscopy rates and help catch or prevent colorectal cancer earlier for rural, low-income patients.
How similar studies have performed: Patient navigation has improved colonoscopy rates in other populations, but its specific benefit for rural, low-income people after a positive FIT has not been proven.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cole, Allison — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Cole, Allison
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.