2022 Messaging Guidebook for Black & African American People: Messages to Motivate for Colorectal Cancer Screening
Black and African American people experience disproportionately high incidence and mortality rates from colorectal cancer (CRC), with CRC death rates almost 40% higher than those of white people. While screening is only one element of the work that needs to be done to address these CRC disparities, it is important to promote screening in the best way possible.
The 2022 Messaging Guidebook for Black & African American People: Messages to Motivate for Colorectal Cancer Screening is intended to provide you with information and tools to help you work towards closing disparity gaps by using effective, tailored cancer screening messaging to help motivate people to get screened.
Background and Goals
The guidebook is a supplement to the2019 Colorectal Cancer Screening Messaging Guidebook: Recommended Messages to Reach the Unscreened. Based on the 2019 market research findings, the NCCRT and the American Cancer Society set out to gain a deeper understanding of the barriers to screening that Black and African American people face through our market research. The overall goal of the research was to:
- Gain a deeper understanding of the barriers to being screened
- Understanding healthcare behaviors and perceptions
- Understand how systemic racism and social injustice impact the Black community’s experiences within the healthcare system
- Uncover different motivators to encourage screening
- Identify preferred and trusted information sources
- Gather reactions to potential messaging and messaging aspects to identify what elements of messaging will be most effective
This guidebook shares the findings and recommendations gathered from that research and is further designed to help educate, empower, and mobilize those not getting screened for colorectal cancer. Our vision is that our partners and advocates in the field use this guidebook to strengthen their communication campaigns and create resources that resonate with Black and African American communities.
View the June 21, 2022 webinar introducing the messaging guidebook.
Additional NCCRT market research and messaging guidance:
- Hispanics/Latinos and Colorectal Cancer Companion Guide
- Asian Americans and Colorectal Cancer Companion Guide
Acknowledgement
The NCCRT would like to thank the Public Awareness & Social Media Strategic Priority Team members and Advisory Committee, who generously offered their time and expertise to develop this guidebook’s research and content. We want to extend a special thank you to Quest Diagnostics, the Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists, and Elevance Health Foundation for their support and guidance in conducting the market research and developing this guidebook.
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Colorectal Cancer Data Dashboard
The CRC Data Dashboard is a dynamic national platform that integrates layers from multiple sources and allows you to interactively explore data using maps and graphs.
2023 Lead Time Messaging Guidebook
This Guidebook is intended to provide you with information and tools to motivate individuals at average and heightened risk for CRC to discuss screening prior to the recommended screening age. Our belief is that this will increase the likelihood that they will prioritize getting screened on-time for CRC.