Surveying 256 Alaska Native people who did not complete colorectal cancer screening (86% of those contacted) identified barriers such as being busy, discomfort, and scheduling or travel issues.
Cross-Sectional (n=256)
Yes
What are the reasons for non-completion of colorectal cancer screening among Alaska Native people who initially agreed to screening?
Identified modifiable barriers to colorectal cancer screening completion among Alaska Native people, such as scheduling issues, lack of knowledge, and logistical barriers.
Abstract Background: The Alaska Tribal Health System is working to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among Alaska Native peoples. It is unknown why people who initially agree to screening might not follow through to complete their screening. Methods: As part of a larger intervention investigating multi-target stool DNA (mt-sDNA) test use in rural Alaska communities, we interviewed Alaska Native people who had agreed to scheduling a colonoscopy or having a mt-sDNA kit sent to their home but who did not complete their selected test. Results: Of 531 Alaska Native people who initially agreed but did not complete screening, 299 (56%) were able to be contacted for a follow-up survey. Of those, 256 (86%) answered the survey; 187/224 (83%) who had chosen mt-sDNA, and 69/75 (93%) who had chosen colonoscopy. Reported reasons for non-completion of stool DNA test kits included being busy or forgetting, being uncomfortable doing a stool test, and not knowing how to do the test or concerns over how to return the kit for processing. Reasons for non-completion of colonoscopy included scheduling issues, physical health issues, travel, and housing barriers, as well as cost, fear, and being too busy. Of note, many respondents in both groups indicated they would still be interested in CRC screening in the future or were currently pursuing screening. Conclusions: This was the first exploration of reasons for non-adherence to CRC screening after initial test request by Alaska Native people. Many of the identified themes are amenable to health care system changes for future interventions to improve screening outreach and uptake. Citation Format: Diana Redwood, Christie A. Flanagan, Lauren Jeffries, Melissa Toffolon, Joseph Klejka, Lila J. Finney Rutten, Judith S. Kaur, John B. Kisiel. Non-completion of colorectal cancer screening among Alaska Native people in an intervention trial abstract. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 2474.
Redwood et al. (Fri,) conducted a cross-sectional in Colorectal cancer screening non-completion (n=256). Survey of reasons for non-completion was evaluated on Reasons for non-completion of colorectal cancer screening. Surveying 256 Alaska Native people who did not complete colorectal cancer screening (86% of those contacted) identified barriers such as being busy, discomfort, and scheduling or travel issues.