ColoNav: patient navigation for colorectal cancer screening in deprived areas. Study protocol

International audienceBackground: The mass colorectal cancer screening program was implemented in 2008 in France, targeting 16million French people aged between 50 and 74. The current adhesion is insufficient and the participation rate iseven lower among the underserved population, increasing health inequalities within our health care system. PatientNavigation programs have proved their efficiency to promote the access to cancer screening and diagnosis.Methods/Design: The purpose of the study is to assess the implementation of a patient navigation interventionthat has been described in another cultural environment and another health care system. The main objective ofthe program is to increase the colorectal cancer screening participation rate among the deprived populationthrough the intervention of a navigator to promote the Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) and complementary exams.We performed a multisite cluster randomized controlled trial, with three groups (one experimental group and twocontrol groups) for 18 months.Discussion: The study attempts to give a better understanding of the adhesion barriers to colorectal cancerscreening among underserved populations. If this project is cost-effective, it could create a dynamic based on peerapproaches that could be developed for other cancer screening programs and other chronic diseases