Colorectal Cancer Screening Decisions From Student-Led Telemedicine Initiative During COVID-19

Abstract

Background and Objectives: With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant decrease in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening leading to delayed diagnoses and increased cancer deaths. To mitigate these burgeoning gaps in care, we developed a medical student-led service learning project aimed at improving rates of colorectal cancer screening at the Farrell Health Center (FHC), a primary care practice within the Ambulatory Care Network (ACN) at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Methods: A cohort of 973 FHC patients aged 50-75 years were identified as possibly overdue for screening. Student volunteers reviewed patient charts to confirm screening eligibility and then contacted patients to offer colonoscopy or stool DNA test. Following the patient outreach intervention, medical student volunteers completed a questionnaire to assess the educational value for the service-learning experience. Results: Fifty-three percent of identified patients were due for CRC screening; 67.8% of eligible patients were reached by volunteers. Among the patients reached, 47.0% were referred for CRC screening. No statistical significance was observed between likelihood of CRC screening acceptance and patient age or sex; 87% of medical student volunteers felt that the service-learning project was a valuable educational experience. Conclusion: The student-led patient telehealth outreach program is an effective model for identifying and referring patients overdue for CRC screening and an enriching educational experience for preclinical medical students. The structure provides a valuable framework to address gaps in health care maintenance.

Types and outcomes of health promotion interventions led by public health students: a scoping review

“…In addition to focusing on health promotion, the included studies showed that student-led interventions improved screening and the early detection of chronic conditions. The role of students in screening services is not new; there is a vast amount of literature showing that medical students can use screening services to increase the early detection of diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer (2, 30-32). However, the unique focus of our findings is that public health students in particular – upon receiving adequate training or supervision – can also engage in these types of activities.…”