Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second-leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States.1 Compared to national averages, American Indians (AI) endure a disproportionate burden of CRC incidence and CRC-specific mortality.2 Screening is an effective early detection strategy to decrease preventable CRC-related deaths, but AI have some of the lowest CRC screening rates. In Oklahoma, only 51% of AI are up to date with screening compared to nearly two-thirds of eligible US adults.2 Efforts to improve screening rates have focused on increasing access to home stool screening (i.e.. fecal immunochemical test; FIT), as many AI live in rural communities and must drive long distances to access screening services. Tribal community health educators (TCHE) are an effective strategy to promote FIT screening within AI communities as they can overcome historical mistrust, health literacy gaps, and provide culturally concordant educational messaging. However, success of TCHE is limited by their reach as they cannot logistically engage with all necessary AI communities. As such, there remains a critical need to develop novel and scalable multi-channel communication interventions that can mimic the benefits of a TCHE and provide easy access to FIT kits among AI in Oklahoma. Virtual human technology, which uses 3D models to create photorealistic virtual humans, offers an innovative approach to create a virtual TCHE (v-TCHE) and may overcome the logistical barriers inherent with in-person delivered health education. The investigative team have previously used this technology to create race- and culturally concordant virtual characters to deliver CRC screening recommendations (R01CA207689) and support clinical trials enrollment (R24AG074867; U01CA274970) among rural and racial minority patients in Florida. This proposal would support codevelopment and testing of the first virtual human tailored for AI patients. The investigators believe a v-TCHE can engender the positive source cues that invoke feelings of trust among AI patients that an in-person TCHE provides. The novelty and customization of a v-TCHE can further enhance interest and perceived cultural relevance of CRC screening information. Moreover, the interactive nature, compared to other more passive communication strategies (e.g., narrative testimonial videos), can empower decisionIRB NUMBER: 16811 IRB APPROVAL DATE: 04/10/2024 Neil, Version # IRB version 03/12/2019 3 making and aligns with cultural preference of self-determination within Tribal practices while still promoting CRC screening.3 Aim 1. Co-develop a multi-channel communication intervention with AI in Oklahoma. Approach. Phase 1 will conduct 4 focus groups (n=6-8 per group) of AI patients from IHS Clinton Service Unit to co-develop the communication intervention content. Phase 2 will record the Narrative Testimonial Video and create the v-TCHE. Phase 3 will employ a community advisory board (CAB) for final review of the interventions before dissemination. Aim 2. Determine the reach and potential efficacy of a multi-channel communication intervention to promote CRC screening among AI in Oklahoma. Approach. The investigators aim to accrue 150 AI patients, aged 45-75 and not up to date with CRC screening, who live within IHS Clinton Service Unit catchment area. Reach (primary outcome) will be determined by the proportion of participants who successfully engage with the intervention, compared across intervention channels (Social Media vs. Clinic). Potential efficacy will be determined by (1) post-intervention differences in knowledge about CRC symptoms and screening and (2) the proportion of participants who order and return a FIT kit within 30 days, compared between study conditions (i.e., Narrative Testimonial Video vs. v-TCHE interaction) and intervention channels (Social Media vs. Clinic). Public Health Impact. This proposal is highly responsive to Track 2 in the PA-20-272 as it attempts to address inequities in CRC outcomes among AI populations. The investigators examine the feasibility of co-developing and disseminating a multi-channel communication intervention to promote a United States Preventive Services Taskforce recommended cancer screening test. If successful, findings will support a first-of-its-kind, highly scalable approach to overcome the reach limitations that Tribal community health educators face. A future R01 will determine the efficacy of different v-TCHE to promote FIT screening across other Tribal healthcare systems.
