Community Health Workers United to Reduce Colorectal Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Among People at Higher Risk

The overall goal of this study is to develop a comprehensive, culturally tailored community-based colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention model with a dual emphasis on reducing CRC risk along with its CVD risk factors. The study intervention has two components: Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) to address CRC screening and a web-based lifestyle program called "Alive!" to address CVD risk factors linked to CRC. The C.H.U.R.C.H. Trial (Community Health workers (CHW) United to Reduce Colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease among people at Higher risk) has four specific aims: (1) to compare the effect of a CHW-Led SBIRT (Intervention) to Referral As Usual (RAU) (Usual Care) on guideline-concordant CRC screening uptake; (2) to evaluate the effect of a Culturally Adapted CHW-linked Alive! (CACA) program incorporated into the intervention arm on dietary inflammatory score (DIS); (3) to evaluate the effect of CACA on changes in Life Simple-7 (LS7) scores; and (4) to examine the multi-level contextual mechanisms and factors influencing CHW effectiveness, reach, and implementation of CRC screening uptake and CACA activities through a mixed-methods process evaluation. Given the broad reach and influence of churches, results from this study can be used to inform future scale up of this multi-pronged intervention.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most lethal cancer in the U.S with the highest incidence and mortality rates among African Americans (AAs) compared to other racial groups. Despite these disparities, which includes premature mortality, AAs are the least likely to undergo CRC screening, have precancerous colorectal polys removed, and have CRC detected at stages early enough for curative excision. Lower screening rates are linked to the downstream effects of structural inequities such as access to care, knowledge of screening options and benefits, health system mistrust, fear and anxiety. Although reducing the burden of CRC is best accomplished by screening, compelling evidence links inflammatory diets and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors to increased CRC risk. This proposal aims to develop a community-based prevention model to reduce CRC and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among AAs.