Preventing Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer in the VA

Starting soon · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Colorectal Neoplasms, Mass Screening

In brief

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer death among Veterans. The starting age for colorectal cancer screening has been lowered from 50 to 45 years in response to the rising incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC), but how to best engage younger Veterans in screening is unclear. The investigators will 1) develop and validate a novel risk score for EOCRC derived from the VA electronic health record data, 2) conduct a multilevel screening intervention that targets individuals aged 45-49 years and informs high-risk individuals and their providers about their risk status for EOCRC, and 3) determine barriers and facilitators to implementing the intervention using a qualitative process evaluation. Aim 2 is the focus of the trial. The overall goal of this study is to create and test a risk stratification approach to prevent EOCRC, which may be especially useful for younger individuals who are less likely to participate in preventive care.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07071454

Run by

VA Office of Research and Development

People needed

536

Starts

2026-10-01

Expected to finish

2029-06-30

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-29

Who can join

Age: 45 and older, up to 49. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age 45-49 years at screening

You may not qualify if…

• Up-to-date with CRC screening based on the USPSTF guideline (e.g., colonoscopy within the past 10 years or FIT within the past year)
• Prior CRC diagnosis
• Prior total colectomy
• Limited life expectancy (defined as terminal illness, hospice enrollment, or documented life expectancy <6 months on the medical problem list or a health factor in the EHR
• Deactivated national CRC screening and surveillance reminder (due to risk level or comorbidities)

Where it is running

• VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, New York, NY — New York, New York, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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