A Review of Community-Based Interventions to Address Colorectal Cancer Health Disparities Among the Black Population

From 1975 to 2016, 5-year relative survival rates for colorectal cancer have increased from 50% to 65%, largely due to the advent of novel therapeutic options that aid in prevention and treatment. However, the disproportionate gap in mortality rates has continued to exist among the white and black population. These health disparities and discrepancies have been well documented over the past several decades. The 5-year relative colorectal cancer survival rate for the white population has increased from 50% to 65% while that of the black population has increased from 45% to 59%. To close the disparity gap, community-based interventions have been implemented and studied with a focus on improving screening rates. While many studies have shown promising results, these studies are sparse, and a heavier emphasis on reducing these health disparities is warranted. In this review, community-based interventions for the black population over the past two decades were systematically evaluated for efficacy and reproducibility. A literature review was conducted to investigate different community-based health care interventions to assess the effect on cancer screening rates. On average, a positive increase in colorectal cancer screening rates was observed when community-based interventions were implemented. Thus, there is evidence supporting the use of community-based interventions to increase cancer screening rates in an effort to reduce the health disparities associated with colorectal cancer among the black population.