Health Outcomes | Colorectal Cancer Evaluation Measures

Health outcomes measures for colorectal cancer screening^1-8

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