Motivational Interviewing for Colonoscopy

Compared to other racial groups, African Americans have the highest colorectal cancer (CRC) morbidity and mortality rates. Screening colonoscopy can aid in the early detection and prevention of CRC. A motivational interviewing (MI) intervention holds strong promise to increase African Americans' screening colonoscopy adherence and, by doing so, decrease CRC disparities. There is a great need to conduct a randomized clinical trial (RCT) that tests the efficacy of an MI intervention to increase screening colonoscopy adherence in African Americans. The first critical and necessary step in this line of research is to pilot test such an RCT.

Objective/hypotheses: The primary objective of the proposed study is to conduct pilot testing for a future RCT which will formally test the effects of MI on screening colonoscopy adherence in African Americans. The results from this pilot study will directly inform the development of a future RCT.

Specific aims: 1) To estimate the magnitude of the MI intervention effect size; and 2) To estimate the magnitude of the mediation effect sizes (drawn from Self Determination Theory).

Inclusion criteria

• self-identified as African American
• aged 50 years or older
• attended a non-acute visit with a primary care physician
• received a primary care physician referral for a screening colonoscopy
• deemed eligible for an open access screening colonoscopy
• agreed to have a screening colonoscopy conducted at Mount Sinai
• English speaking

Exclusion criteria

• Personal history of CRC or chronic GI disorder