When Should We Let Colorectal Cancer Screening Get Personal?

ABSTRACT: Although screening reduces colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and related mortality, national CRC screening rates remain suboptimal. Identifying strategies to improve screening rates remains an area of intense focus, and previous literature supports an association between the perceived risk of CRC and a likelihood or intent to complete screening. However, risk estimation alone through the validated National Cancer Institute Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment Tool does not improve screening uptake compared with general education. Future studies should couple risk estimation with patient navigation and decision support aids to build upon our existing armamentarium of effective interventions.