{"id":3974,"date":"2026-10-12T18:54:29","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T18:54:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=3974"},"modified":"2026-10-12T18:54:29","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T18:54:29","slug":"mailed-fit-outreach-boosts-crc-screening-among-underserved-adults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=3974","title":{"rendered":"Mailed FIT outreach boosts CRC screening among underserved adults"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"ArticleContent\">\n<div class=\"article__below-title\">\n<div class=\" article__posted-date\">\n<p>October 12, 2026<\/p>\n<p>2 min read<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mobile-trust-box\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-5 d-xl-none\">\n<div class=\"trust-box\">\n<div class=\"trust-box-logo d-none d-md-block\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/h5\/feature\/news\/publogos\/hgld\/healio_gastro.svg?la=en&amp;h=40&amp;w=152&amp;hash=2C654A538F2E250F5183D42A89FE0EC0\" class=\"logo-img\" height=\"40\" alt=\"Healio Logo - Gastroenterology\" width=\"152\"\/>\n          <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 offset-md-1 offset-xl-0 col-xl-12\">\n<div class=\"email-alert-button-wrapper d-none\" data-component=\"EmailTopicAlert\" data-module=\"Subspecialty Email Topic Alerts Top\" data-manage-email-link=\"\/footer\/account-information\/my-account\/email-subscriptions-and-alerts#emailAlerts\">\n  <hidden data-setting-item=\"d265901d-6d37-49c7-a8f6-c7bf19a02509\"\/><br \/>\n  <hidden data-crm-source=\"Subspecialty Topic Alert\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-button d-none\" data-topic-button=\"not-subscribed\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n      <span data-module-track-action=\"Email Alerts TOP_Click_Healio News Article\" data-module-track-label=\"Email Alerts TOP_Healio News Article\">&#13;<br \/>\n        <i class=\"fas fa-plus-circle\"\/>&#13;<br \/>\n        Add topic to email alerts&#13;<br \/>\n      <\/span>&#13;\n    <\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-inner collapse u4385fcb40efc4718be7298dfac9af86b\">\n<div class=\"email-alert-dialogue\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n          Receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>&#13;\n        <\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-sign-up-type=\"unknown\">\n          Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>      <button type=\"button\" class=\"btn btn-primary\" data-loading-text=\"Loading &lt;i class=\" fa=\"\" fa-spinner=\"\" fa-spin=\"\">&#8220;&#13;<br \/>\n              data-action=&#8221;subscribe&#8221;&gt;&#13;<br \/>\n        Subscribe&#13;<br \/>\n      <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-topic-modal=\"failed\">    <strong>We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/gastroenterology\/20261012\/mailto:customerservice@slackinc.com\">customerservice@slackinc.com<\/a>.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n<p><button data-dismiss=\"modal\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg btn-block\">Back to Healio<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Key takeaways:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Mailed FIT outreach significantly increased CRC screening for underserved adults, including those aged 45 to 49 years, vs. usual care.<\/li>\n<li>Colonoscopy rates also increased with outreach after an abnormal FIT result.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2014 A mailed fecal immunochemical test-based outreach program increased colorectal cancer screening rates by more than 50% among underserved adults in New York City, according to study results.<\/p>\n<p>Finding presented at ACG Annual Scientific Meeting also showed the program improved <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/gastroenterology\/20260427\/failure-to-complete-colonoscopy-after-positive-stool-test-markedly-increased-crc-risk\" id=\"rId10\" target=\"_blank\">colonoscopy rates<\/a> by nearly 70% compared with usual care following an abnormal fecal immunochemical test (FIT) result.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"figure article__og-image\">&#13;\n    <picture>&#13;<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/gastroenterology\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/1026\/hgi1026shaukat_acg_graphic_01.webp?w=476\" media=\"(max-width: 768px)\">&#13;<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/gastroenterology\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/1026\/hgi1026shaukat_acg_graphic_01.webp?w=800\" media=\"(max-width: 992px)\">&#13;<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/gastroenterology\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/1026\/hgi1026shaukat_acg_graphic_01.webp?w=595\" media=\"(max-width: 1200px)\">&#13;<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/gastroenterology\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/1026\/hgi1026shaukat_acg_graphic_01.webp?w=476\" media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\">&#13;<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/gastroenterology\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/1026\/hgi1026shaukat_acg_graphic_01.webp?w=476\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/gastroenterology\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/1026\/hgi1026shaukat_acg_graphic_01.jpg?w=800\" alt=\"Mailed FIT outreach increased CRC screening more than usual care in an underserved population IG\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid\" width=\"800\"\/>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>&#13;<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">&#13;<br \/>\n      Data derived from\u00a0Shaukat A, et al. A randomized clinical trial of multi-level intervention to improve colorectal cancer screening rates at multiple federally qualified health care centers in New York City. Presented at: ACG Annual Scientific Meeting; Oct. 12-14, 2026; Nashville, Tenn. (hybrid meeting).&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption>&#13;<br \/>\n  <\/figure>\n<div class=\"mug left\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH\" style=\" height:106px; width:80px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/gastroenterology\/mugs\/s\/shaukat_aasma_2026_.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong><b>Aasma Shaukat<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cOverall, we found an absolute increase of 12 [percentage points] in screening completion,\u201d <b>Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, <\/b>Robert M. and Mary H. Glickman Professor of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, told Healio. \u201cWe found the same increase in younger individuals [aged 45 to 49 years], suggesting outreach works for this age group.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>CRC screening rates are low across several federally qualified healthcare centers in New York City, according to study background. <\/p>\n<p>Outreach via mailed FIT \u2014 an at-home <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/gastroenterology\/20260824\/fitbased-screening-program-linked-to-50-drop-in-colorectal-cancer-mortality\" id=\"rId11\" target=\"_blank\">CRC screening<\/a> option for average-risk adults \u2014 is understudied among individuals receiving care through these facilities.<\/p>\n<p>Shaukat and colleagues investigated whether a multitiered outreach program could improve CRC screening rates, as well as understand projected costs, barriers and facilitators to use, among underserved adults across five federally qualified healthcare centers in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n<p>They randomly assigned 2,007 adults aged 45 to 75 years (median age, 57.5 years; 66.5% women; 69.4% Black) to a FIT outreach intervention (n = 891) or to standard care (n = 1,116). Overall, 40.4% of the cohort was unemployed and 40.7% were on Medicaid.<\/p>\n<p>The intervention included letters explaining screening and FIT instructions, a call or voice message reminder to return the kit, and a letter reminder if needed.<\/p>\n<p>Participants with an abnormal FIT result received vouchers to pay for colonoscopy preparation and for transportation to and from a clinic for the procedure.<\/p>\n<p>Completion of FIT screening within 6 months of randomization served as the primary outcome, and completion of colonoscopy following an abnormal result served as the secondary outcome.<\/p>\n<p>Overall screening completion was higher with mailed outreach than usual care (35.9% vs. 23.6%; <i>P<\/i> = .001), a finding that was consistent among those aged 45 to 49 years (31.9% vs. 20.1%; <i>P<\/i> = .02).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBased on other studies, we had expected a 10 [percentage point] increase,\u201d Shaukat told Healio. \u201cWe are encouraged to see a 12 [percentage point] improvement, especially considering that the [aged 45 to 49 years] group is newly added, and may be more difficult to show an improvement.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Individuals in the mailed outreach cohort also were significantly more likely to undergo colonoscopy following an abnormal FIT result (92% vs. 54%; <i>P<\/i> = .03), according to the researchers.<\/p>\n<p>Results showed unemployment was associated with lower odds of participating in screening (OR = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.63-0.95), whereas older age (OR = 1.024; 95% CI, 1.008-1.039) and Black race (OR = 0.708; 95% CI, 0.528-0.944) were linked to improved odds of screening.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven after controlling for lack of insurance, unemployment was associated with low screening rates, suggesting deeper social determinants of health at play,\u201d Shaukat said.<\/p>\n<p>Interviews conducted with participants showed they valued outreach efforts and wanted more information about cancer risks to inform their decisions, she added.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe simply cannot wait for patients to come to clinic to see us, but need to reach out\u201d Shaukat told Healio. \u201cIt\u2019s important that we meet our patients where they are at. We need to provide flexibility in how patients receive preventive care, and use digital and other tools for outreach.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>For more information:<\/h2>\n<p>      <b>Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH<\/b><b>,<\/b><b> <\/b>can be reached at<b> <\/b>      <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/gastroenterology\/20261012\/mailto:aasma.shaukat@nyulangone.org\" id=\"rId12\" target=\"_blank\">aasma.shaukat@nyulangone.org<\/a><b>.<\/b>    <\/p>\n<div class=\"article__content--footer\">\n<div class=\"publisher-logo\">\n    <span>Published by:<\/span><br \/>\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/h5\/feature\/news\/publogos\/hgld\/healio_gastro.svg?la=en&amp;h=40&amp;w=152&amp;hash=2C654A538F2E250F5183D42A89FE0EC0\" class=\"logo-img\" height=\"40\" alt=\"Healio Logo - Gastroenterology\" width=\"152\"\/>\n  <\/div>\n<div class=\"sources-references-disclosures\">\n<h3>Sources\/Disclosures<\/h3>\n<h2> Source: <\/h2>\n<p class=\"citation\">Shaukat A, et al. A randomized clinical trial of multi-level intervention to improve colorectal cancer screening rates at multiple federally qualified health care centers in New York City. Presented at: ACG Annual Scientific Meeting; Oct. 12-14, 2026; Nashville, Tenn. (hybrid meeting).<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclosures\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n        <strong> Disclosures: <\/strong>&#13;<br \/>\n        Shaukat reports consulting roles with Freenome, Geneoscopy, Iterative Health and Universal Diagnostics.&#13;\n      <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- Healio AI Widget --><\/p>\n<div class=\"healio-ai-component-inline\" data-no-ads=\"true\" data-module-track-category=\"Healio AI\" data-module-track-action=\"Click\" data-module-track-label=\"Access Healio Ai from component - News_AI Component - In-Content (all devices)\">\n<div class=\"healio-ai-content\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/m3.healio.com\/~\/media\/images\/healio-ai\/healio-ai_logo.svg\" alt=\"Healio AI\" class=\"healio-ai-logo\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ask a clinical question<\/strong> and tap into <strong>Healio AI&#8217;s knowledge<\/strong> base.<\/p>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>PubMed, enrolling\/recruiting trials, guidelines<\/li>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>Clinical Guidance, Healio CME, FDA news<\/li>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>Healio&#8217;s exclusive daily news coverage of clinical data<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n    <\/ul>\n<p>    <button class=\"healio-ai-button\" onclick=\"window.location.href=\" https:=\"\">Learn more<\/button>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"email-alert-button-wrapper d-none\" data-component=\"EmailTopicAlert\" data-module=\"Subspecialty Email Topic Alerts Top\" data-manage-email-link=\"\/footer\/account-information\/my-account\/email-subscriptions-and-alerts#emailAlerts\">\n  <hidden data-setting-item=\"d265901d-6d37-49c7-a8f6-c7bf19a02509\"\/><br \/>\n  <hidden data-crm-source=\"Subspecialty Topic Alert\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-button d-none\" data-topic-button=\"not-subscribed\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n      <span data-module-track-action=\"Email Alerts TOP_Click_Healio News Article\" data-module-track-label=\"Email Alerts TOP_Healio News Article\">&#13;<br \/>\n        <i class=\"fas fa-plus-circle\"\/>&#13;<br \/>\n        Add topic to email alerts&#13;<br \/>\n      <\/span>&#13;\n    <\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-inner collapse u4385fcb40efc4718be7298dfac9af86b\">\n<div class=\"email-alert-dialogue\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n          Receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>&#13;\n        <\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-sign-up-type=\"unknown\">\n          Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>      <button type=\"button\" class=\"btn btn-primary\" data-loading-text=\"Loading &lt;i class=\" fa=\"\" fa-spinner=\"\" fa-spin=\"\">&#8220;&#13;<br \/>\n              data-action=&#8221;subscribe&#8221;&gt;&#13;<br \/>\n        Subscribe&#13;<br \/>\n      <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-topic-modal=\"failed\">    <strong>We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/gastroenterology\/20261012\/mailto:customerservice@slackinc.com\">customerservice@slackinc.com<\/a>.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n<p><button data-dismiss=\"modal\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg btn-block\">Back to Healio<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/gastroenterology\/20261012\/mailed-fit-outreach-boosts-crc-screening-among-underserved-adults-in-new-york-city\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>October 12, 2026 2 min read &#13; &#13; &#13; Add topic to email alerts&#13; &#13; &#13; Receive an email when new articles are posted on &#13; Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . &#8220;&#13; data-action=&#8221;subscribe&#8221;&gt;&#13; Subscribe&#13; We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio Key takeaways: Mailed FIT outreach significantly increased CRC screening for underserved adults, including those aged 45 to 49 years, vs. usual care. Colonoscopy rates also increased with outreach after an abnormal FIT result. NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2014 A mailed fecal immunochemical test-based outreach program increased colorectal cancer screening rates by more than 50% among underserved adults in New York City, according to study results. Finding presented at ACG Annual Scientific Meeting also showed the program improved colonoscopy rates by nearly 70% compared with usual care following an abnormal fecal immunochemical test (FIT) result. &#13; &#13;&#13;&#13;&#13;&#13;&#13; &#13; &#13; &#13;&#13; Data derived from\u00a0Shaukat A, et al. A randomized clinical trial of multi-level intervention to improve colorectal cancer screening rates at multiple federally qualified health care centers in New York City. Presented at: ACG Annual Scientific Meeting; Oct. 12-14, 2026; Nashville, Tenn. (hybrid meeting).&#13; &#13; Aasma Shaukat \u201cOverall, we found an absolute increase of 12 [percentage points] in screening completion,\u201d Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, Robert M. and Mary H. Glickman Professor of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, told Healio. \u201cWe found the same increase in younger individuals [aged 45 to 49 years], suggesting outreach works for this age group.\u201d CRC screening rates are low across several federally qualified healthcare centers in New York City, according to study background. Outreach via mailed FIT \u2014 an at-home CRC screening option for average-risk adults \u2014 is understudied among individuals receiving care through these facilities. Shaukat and colleagues investigated whether a multitiered outreach program could improve CRC screening rates, as well as understand projected costs, barriers and facilitators to use, among underserved adults across five federally qualified healthcare centers in Brooklyn. They randomly assigned 2,007 adults aged 45 to 75 years (median age, 57.5 years; 66.5% women; 69.4% Black) to a FIT outreach intervention (n = 891) or to standard care (n = 1,116). Overall, 40.4% of the cohort was unemployed and 40.7% were on Medicaid. The intervention included letters explaining screening and FIT instructions, a call or voice message reminder to return the kit, and a letter reminder if needed. Participants with an abnormal FIT result received vouchers to pay for colonoscopy preparation and for transportation to and from a clinic for the procedure. Completion of FIT screening within 6 months of randomization served as the primary outcome, and completion of colonoscopy following an abnormal result served as the secondary outcome. Overall screening completion was higher with mailed outreach than usual care (35.9% vs. 23.6%; P = .001), a finding that was consistent among those aged 45 to 49 years (31.9% vs. 20.1%; P = .02). \u201cBased on other studies, we had expected a 10 [percentage point] increase,\u201d Shaukat told Healio. \u201cWe are encouraged to see a 12 [percentage point] improvement, especially considering that the [aged 45 to 49 years] group is newly added, and may be more difficult to show an improvement.\u201d Individuals in the mailed outreach cohort also were significantly more likely to undergo colonoscopy following an abnormal FIT result (92% vs. 54%; P = .03), according to the researchers. Results showed unemployment was associated with lower odds of participating in screening (OR = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.63-0.95), whereas older age (OR = 1.024; 95% CI, 1.008-1.039) and Black race (OR = 0.708; 95% CI, 0.528-0.944) were linked to improved odds of screening. \u201cEven after controlling for lack of insurance, unemployment was associated with low screening rates, suggesting deeper social determinants of health at play,\u201d Shaukat said. Interviews conducted with participants showed they valued outreach efforts and wanted more information about cancer risks to inform their decisions, she added. \u201cWe simply cannot wait for patients to come to clinic to see us, but need to reach out\u201d Shaukat told Healio. \u201cIt\u2019s important that we meet our patients where they are at. We need to provide flexibility in how patients receive preventive care, and use digital and other tools for outreach.\u201d For more information: Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, can be reached at aasma.shaukat@nyulangone.org. Published by: Sources\/Disclosures Source: Shaukat A, et al. A randomized clinical trial of multi-level intervention to improve colorectal cancer screening rates at multiple federally qualified health care centers in New York City. Presented at: ACG Annual Scientific Meeting; Oct. 12-14, 2026; Nashville, Tenn. (hybrid meeting). &#13; Disclosures: &#13; Shaukat reports consulting roles with Freenome, Geneoscopy, Iterative Health and Universal Diagnostics.&#13; Ask a clinical question and tap into Healio AI&#8217;s knowledge base. &#13; PubMed, enrolling\/recruiting trials, guidelines &#13; Clinical Guidance, Healio CME, FDA news &#13; Healio&#8217;s exclusive daily news coverage of clinical data &#13; Learn more &#13; &#13; &#13; Add topic to email alerts&#13; &#13; &#13; Receive an email when new articles are posted on &#13; Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . &#8220;&#13; data-action=&#8221;subscribe&#8221;&gt;&#13; Subscribe&#13; We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. 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