Support a positive patient experience through timely CRC screening

Offering the Cologuard® test provides early colorectal cancer (CRC) detection in average-risk patients aged 45+ years.1 The Cologuard test has been shown to improve patient adherence, thereby enhancing the overall patient experience.2,3
Physician introducing informed decision making and discussing colorectal cancer screening options with a patient who is sitting on an exam table.

Consider the benefits of prioritizing timely CRC screening

Offering patients choices may increase adherence2
CRC screening completion can be 3x higher in patients who discussed screening options with their clinician.2
Laiyemo study design
Influence of provider discussion and specific recommendation on colorectal cancer screening uptake among U.S. adults1
Laiyemo AO, Adebogun AO, Doubeni CA, et al. Prev Med. 2014;67:1-5.
Study objective
To evaluate whether provider CRC screening modality recommendations influence patient screening completion.
Study design

Researchers used the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) to identify 4283 respondents who were at least 50 years old and answered questions about their communication with their care providers and CRC screening uptake. CRC screening discussions occurred with 3320 (76.2%) respondents. Approximately 95% of these discussions were with physicians.

Researchers defined being compliant with CRC screening as having undergone fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) within the past year, sigmoidoscopy within the past 5 years, or colonoscopy within the past 10 years. Survey weights were used in all analyses.

Study limitations
Findings were limited, since they were based on self-report and the authors were unable to verify CRC screening uptake through chart reviews. The survey instrument had limitations in that it did not ascertain the detail of the discussions with the healthcare provider nor did it provide specific timing (in months and years) for when the discussions about CRC screening took place relative to when the screening tests were performed. Data not available on whether the discussion about screening was initiated by the patient or healthcare provider.

Reference

  1. Laiyemo AO, Adebogun AO, Doubeni CA, et al. Influence of provider discussion and specific recommendation on colorectal cancer screening uptake among U.S. adults. Prev Med. 2014;67:1-5.
Screening for CRC with the noninvasive Cologuard test may detect precancerous lesions1
The Cologuard test may have helped prevent CRC in ~39,000 individuals over the last 10 years by detecting advanced precancerous lesions that were removed during follow-up colonoscopy.1
Offering the Cologuard test for average-risk patients may improve screening rates3
Geisinger Health increased their CRC screening rate to 70% by prioritizing the Cologuard test as a first-line noninvasive option.3*  
Case study summary
Geisinger Health*
Overview
Geisinger Health prioritized the Cologuard® test as its first-line noninvasive option for average-risk patients1
Results
Achieved 70% colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates
How they did it
  • Drove engagement and alignment across internal stakeholders
  • Supported informed decision-making with actionable tools
  • Developed systematic quality improvement protocols via health information technology (HIT) utilization and electronic health record (EHR) optimization

Footnote and reference

  1. Based on a March 2022 internal report on a colorectal cancer screening quality improvement program conducted at Geisinger Health.1
  1. Data on file for Geisinger case study. Health System Marketing. 2022. Exact Sciences Corporation. Madison, WI.

Using the Cologuard test first, followed by a colonoscopy after a positive result, supports the early detection and prevention of CRC in average-risk patients aged 45+ years.4,5

Patients with positive Cologuard test results have been shown to be more likely to follow through with a subsequent colonoscopy when compared to fecal immunochemical test (FIT).6,7†

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has expanded their definition of CRC screening to include follow-up screening colonoscopies after a Medicare covered noninvasive test, such as the Cologuard test, returns a positive result.8
Physician having a discussion with a patient in a healthcare setting lobby.

Discover how to achieve your organizational goals by aligning with noted patient experience-based measures, such as:

  • Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) for Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS)9
  • Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (HOS)10
Learn how incorporating the Cologuard test may increase your system's screening rates
Health system experiences with the Cologuard test
Discover how your Electronic Health Record (EHR) can enable optimized workflows

Footnotes and references

  1. Based on a March 2022 internal report on a colorectal cancer screening quality improvement program conducted at Geisinger Health.3
  2. OC FIT-CHEK, Polymedco, Inc.

  1. Estes C, Dehghani M, Ozbay AB, Vahdat V, Limburg PJ, Brooks D. Clinical, social, and economic impacts of colorectal cancer screening with the multi-target stool-DNA test: 10-year experience – a simulated study. medRxiv. Preprint published August 8, 2024. Accessed December 3, 2024. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.07.24311643v1.full.pdf
  2. Laiyemo AO, Adebogun AO, Doubeni CA, et al. Influence of provider discussion and specific recommendation on colorectal cancer screening uptake among U.S. adults. Prev Med. 2014;67:1-5.
  3. Data on file for Geisinger case study. Health System Marketing. 2022. Exact Sciences Corporation. Madison, WI.
  4. Imperiale TF, Ransohoff DF, Itzkowitz SH, et al. Multitarget stool DNA testing for colorectal-cancer screening. N Engl J Med. 2014;370(14):1287-1297.
  5. Cologuard® Clinician Brochure. Madison, WI: Exact Sciences Corporation.
  6. Finney Rutten LJ, Jacobson DJ, Jenkins GD, et al. Colorectal cancer screening completion: an examination of differences by screening modality. Prev Med Rep. 2020;20:101202.
  7. Austin G, Kowalkowski H, Guo Y, et al. Patterns of initial colorectal cancer screenings after turning 50 years old and follow-up rates of colonoscopy after positive stool-based testing among the average-risk population. Curr Med Opin. 2023;39(1):47-61.
  8. Pub 100-03 Medicare national coverage determinations. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. October 12, 2023. Accessed December 3, 2024. https://www.cms.gov/files/document/r12299ncd.pdf
  9. CAHPS for Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) survey. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. October 2018. Updated July 2022. Accessed December 3, 2024. https://www.ahrq.gov/cahps/surveys-guidance/cg/cahps-mips.html
  10. About the Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (HOS). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Updated February 15, 2024. Accessed December 3, 2024. https://hosonline.org/en/program-overview/

Important Information about the Cologuard products


Indications for Use

The Cologuard® and Cologuard Plus™ tests are intended for the qualitative detection of colorectal neoplasia associated DNA markers and for the presence of occult hemoglobin in human stool. A positive result may indicate the presence of colorectal cancer (CRC) or advanced adenoma (AA)/advanced precancerous lesions (APL) and should be followed by a colonoscopy. The Cologuard test and Cologuard Plus test are indicated to screen adults of either sex, 45 years or older, who are at average risk for CRC. These tests are not a replacement for diagnostic colonoscopy or surveillance colonoscopy in high-risk individuals.

Contraindications

The Cologuard products are not for high-risk individuals, including patients who have the following:

  • a personal history of colorectal cancer and adenomas
  • a positive result from another colorectal cancer screening method within a test recommended timeframe
  • have been diagnosed with a condition associated with high risk for colorectal cancer such as IBD, chronic ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease
  • have a family history of colorectal cancer, or certain hereditary syndromes

Warnings and Precautions

All positive results should be referred to colonoscopy.

The Cologuard products may produce false positive and false negative results. A false positive result occurs when a result is positive, even though a colonoscopy will not find CRC or APL. A false negative result occurs when a result is negative, even when a colonoscopy identifies APL or CRC.

A negative result does not guarantee the absence of colorectal cancer or advanced adenoma. Following a negative result, patients should continue participating in a screening program at an interval and with a method appropriate for the individual patient. Performance when used for repeat testing has not been established.

Refer to the Cologuard test Clinician Brochure or the Cologuard Plus test Clinician Brochure for additional information about the benefits and risks of using each version of the Cologuard product for CRC screening.

Rx only.