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Health Outcomes | Colorectal Cancer Evaluation Measures

Health outcomes measures for colorectal cancer screening1-8

The effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening programs depends on the intensity of program effort and the use of multiple interventions. A rule of thumb is that the more programs implemented together as a package or campaign, the more successful the interventions will be.

Baseline

  • Determine levels of employee colorectal cancer screening rates from employee health survey or health risk appraisal. Examples include:
    • What percentage of employees have been screened
    • Measures of the percent of employees who currently achieve colorectal cancer screening guidelines by employee health survey
  • Determine baseline percentage of employees with health behaviors or conditions where individuals have a higher risk associated with colorectal cancer such as being overweight; drinking alcohol; using tobacco; or being physically inactive
  • Determine levels of diagnostic and treatment procedures from health care and pharmaceutical claims data ◦Of those employee who were screened, what percentage of screening tests reported abnormal results
    • What percent of employees with abnormal screening tests were referred to and completed diagnostic testing to confirm the absence or presence of colorectal cancer
    • How many cases of colorectal cancer were identified
    • What percent of colorectal cancers were identified at stage 0, stage I, stage II, stage III, or stage IV
  • Determine employee knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about colorectal cancer screening◦Evaluate employees’ current knowledge of the health benefits of colorectal cancer screening
    • Measure employee’s knowledge of their risks for colorectal cancer
    • Measure employee’s knowledge of current colorectal cancer screening guidelines
    • Assess employee awareness of existing workplace colorectal cancer screening programs, policies, and benefits
    • Assess employee awareness of behaviors that may reduce colorectal cancer risk, such as reducing obesity or  overweight, drinking alcohol (more than one drink a day), using tobacco or being physically inactive

Process

  • Periodic repeats of baseline measures

Outcome

  • Assess changes in levels of employee colorectal cancer screening rates such as:◦Increases in the number of employees screened
    • Changes in the percentage of employees reaching colorectal cancer screening guidelines
  • Assess changes in the percentage of employees with health behaviors or conditions where individuals have a higher risk associated with colorectal cancer such as being overweight; drinking alcohol; using tobacco; or being physically inactive
  • Determine levels of diagnostic and treatment procedures from health care and pharmaceutical claims data
  • Assess changes in employee knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about colorectal cancer screening 
    • Evaluate changes in employee knowledge of current colorectal cancer screening health benefits and guidelines
    • Measure changes in employee’s knowledge of their risks for colorectal cancer
    • Assess changes in employee awareness of existing workplace colorectal cancer screening programs, policies, and benefits
    • Assess changes in employee awareness of behaviors that may reduce colorectal cancer risk

References

1.  Campbell KP, Lanza A, Dixon R, Chattopadhyay S, Molinari N, Finch RA, editors. A Purchaser’s Guide to Clinical Preventive Services: Moving Science into Coverage. Washington, DC: National Business Group on Health; 2006.

2.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Framework for program evaluation in public health. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1999;48(No. RR-11): 1-40.

3.  Matson Koffman DM, Lanza A, Campbell KP. A Purchaser’s Guide to Clinical Preventive Services: A tool to improve health care coverage for prevention. Preventing Chronic Disease, April 2008; 5(2).

4.  Goetzel RZ, Ozminkowski RJ. Program evaluation. In: O’Donnell MP, editor. Health promotion in the workplace, 3rd edition. Albany, NY: Delmar Thomson Learning; 2002. p 116-165.

5.  National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health. Colorectal Cancer (PDQ): Prevention. Available from: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/colorectal/HealthProfessional/page3.

6.  Vainio H, Bianchini F, eds. IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention, Vol 6: Weight Control and Physical Activity. Lyon, France: IARC Press; 2002.

7.  Curry S, Byers T, Hewitt M, eds. Fulfilling the Potential of Cancer Prevention and Early Detection. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2003.

8.  The health consequences of smoking: a report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, Ga.: Dept. of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health; Washington, D.C. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/2004/index.htm.

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