Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Describe the burden of suffering in the United States due to colorectal cancer.

• Describe racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in CRC incidence, mortality, and screening rates.

• Identify the most current colorectal cancer screening guidelines

• Describe the use of each of the screening methods considered acceptable by the American Cancer Society:
  • stool testing (FOBT, FIT, sDNA)
  • flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS)
  • colonoscopy
  • double contrast barium enema (DCBE)
  • CT colonography (CTC)

• Facilitate shared decision making through the explanation of test preparation, performance, benefits and drawbacks for each screening method.

• Instruct patients with regard to dietary and pharmacologic restrictions and preparation prior to each form of screening.

• Instruct patients in the proper techniques to complete stool testing and in what to expect during FS, DCBE, colonoscopy, and CTC.

• Inform patients of the necessary follow-up when results are positive.

• Describe new colorectal cancer screening modalities currently under investigation.