MCHC FitFlu Program

Designed to increase colorectal cancer screening (CRC) among adults, this intervention allows health care providers to promote screening to patients at the time of their annual flu vaccine, offering a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) kit, instructions, and a return envelope. The studies showed increased completion of CRC screening.

The Flu-FIT and Flu-FOBT Program allows Mariposa Community Healthcenter providers to increase access to colorectal cancer screening by offering home tests to patients at the time of their annual influenza (flu) vaccination. The program is designed to increase CRCS rates by conveying the importance of screening and  getting an annual flu shot. The message to patients is that "just like a flu shot, you need FIT or FOBT every year."

Nurses or medical assistants are provided a variety of tools to assist with offering a home FIT or FOBT kit to eligible patients, including visual aids for explaining the test to patients (including foods to avoid to prevent false positive results), simple written instructions for how to self-administer the test, video instructions, and stamped envelopes for completing and returning the kit to the laboratory. These materials are provided in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Nurses are encouraged to use whichever materials they find most useful to encourage patients to complete FIT or FOBT.