Results of Coordinated Investigations of a National Colorectal Cancer Education Campaign in Appalachia

Appalachia is largely rural, and residents have less contact with physicians, lower levels of preventive care, and less health insurance coverage for the nonelderly than the general U.S. population. The incidence of colorectal cancer in Appalachian areas of Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia has been found to be greater than the incidence in other areas of the United States. To investigate community-based methods to address this health disparity, the Appalachia Cancer Network (ACN) developed and implemented three coordinated investigations of Screen for Life: National Colorectal Cancer Action Campaign, a national, multiyear, multimedia campaign to promote colorectal cancer education and screening among men and women aged 50 years and older. Together, these three investigations represent coordinated research from a network of investigators working with state and national partners in largely rural regions. The investigations provide important insights into the perceived effectiveness and methods for dissemination of Screen for Life messages in rural Appalachia.