Support to help people in rural areas get a colonoscopy
Official title: Rural Community Support for Colonoscopy
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11295485 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | March 8, 2021 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $236,944 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA254515-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11295485 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cole, Allison — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Cole, Allison
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Colonoscopy with light-based tissue fingerprints to detect colorectal cancer
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-
Improving colonoscopy training with sensorized manikins and computer coaching
This project builds realistic sensor-equipped practice manikins and a computer coach to help doctors learn colonoscopy skills faster and more safely.
-
Video-based tool to boost colonoscopy quality for low-volume doctors
A new, AI-assisted video-based approach helps lower-volume colonoscopy doctors perform higher-quality screenings to catch polyps and reduce cancer risk.
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Helping people complete colonoscopy after an abnormal stool test
This project uses team-based care and technology to help people with an abnormal at-home stool test (FIT) finish their follow-up colonoscopy.
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Helping people get recommended follow-up colonoscopies after high-risk colon polyps
This program uses electronic records and automated reminders to help patients and doctors complete the recommended three-year follow-up colonoscopy after high-risk colorectal polyps.
-
Follow-up colonoscopy decisions for adults 75 and older
This project looks at whether getting routine follow-up colonoscopies after polyp removal helps people aged 75 and older avoid colorectal cancer while weighing the procedure risks.
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.