# Pilot Project 2 (CRC)

> **NIH NIH P20** · VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $30,372

## Abstract

PILOT PROJECT 2: PROJECT SUMMARY
The NCI Screen to Save (S2S) has successfully increased awareness about colorectal cancer (CRC) and the
importance of screening for prevention and early detection. Using S2S tools and methods through 2018-2020,
our team educated over 211 individuals but identified the need to more effectively reach African American
(AA)/Black men who represented only 10% of those we enrolled. AA/Black men experience 24% higher CRC
incidence, 47% higher mortality, and have the shortest CRC survival rates of all racial/ethnic groups. Moreover,
CRC screening participation rates among AA/Black men are 10%-30% lower than other groups. Because CRC
is one of few cancers for which precancerous and early stage disease can be identified and treated successfully
through preventive screening, tailored interventions that can successfully increase AA/Black men’s CRC
screening participation are critical. The goal of this proposal is to collect in-depth information on AA/Black men’s
CRC screening beliefs, attitudes and values to inform the development of culturally tailored mHealth intervention
designed to improve CRC screening participation. Transforming the traditional S2S materials content and
delivery, this study will develop and test enhanced mHealth delivered materials that address constructs that
impede screening uptake specific to AA/Black men. Secondly, we will test the feasibility of intervention delivery
using a novel mHealth platform, not previously used by CRC screening interventions. This study leverages an
existing educational strategy, institutional commitment, and expertise infused technology and tailored messages
to address an important public health issue. If successful, S2S mHealth has potential for wide-spread
dissemination with the 39 NON-S2S network and beyond. Aim 1. Determine factors associated with self-reported
CRC screening behaviors among (n=175) AA/Black men in Petersburg, VA. H1.1. Lack of social support, higher
medical mistrust, and perceived discrimination will be negatively associated with self-reported screening
behaviors (ever & up-to-date). H2.2. Higher engagement in preventive care behaviors and greater perceived risk
will be associated with higher completion of CRC screening. Subaim1a. Examine potential interactions between
perceived discrimination, medical mistrust and engagement in preventive care behaviors. H1.3. Increased
perceptions of discrimination and greater medical mistrust will attenuate the relationship between preventive
care and self-reported screening (ever & up-to-date). Aim 2. Develop tailored S2S content for AA/Black men to
be delivered using a combination of short video and text-based information optimized for delivery via QR codes
for smartphones. Aim 3. Evaluate the feasibility of delivering the enhanced S2S intervention for AA/Black men
(n=30) delivered via local barbershops. H3.1. 50% of those who scan the QR code will consent to participate
and 70% of those consented will complete fol...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10302581
- **Project number:** 1P20CA264067-01
- **Recipient organization:** VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Maria D. Thomson
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $30,372
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-21 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10302581

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10302581, Pilot Project 2 (CRC) (1P20CA264067-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10302581. Licensed CC0.

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