Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening in Urban African American Communities Via Churches (ACTS)

This is an intervention study to increase colorectal cancer screening and physical activity in members of African-American churches who are 50 years old and older. The control arm receives the Body & Soul program, a program to increase fruit and vegetable intake. The investigators hypothesize that those receiving the intervention, which includes four tailored newsletters and peer counseling, will be more likely to be screened if not up-to-date, and more likely to increase physical activity if screening was up-to-date at baseline, than controls.

CRC screening status, physical activity level, fruit and vegetable consumption, Early Detection of Cancer, Colorectal Cancer (CRC) screening status

This is a standardized intervention to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among church members through pastoral and peer counseling and church activities/menus.

Four tailored newsletters and peer counseling calls to promote CRC screening among church members out-of-date according to screening guidelines. For those up-to-date, promotion is of increased physical activity.

Pastoral and peer counseling, and church activities/menus to promote increased fruit and vegetable consumption among church members.

Four tailored newsletters and peer counseling calls to promote CRC screening in church members who are out-of-date with screening. Four tailored newsletters and peer counseling calls to others to increase physical activity.

Among church members who were out-of-date for CRC screening at baseline, a higher percentage of experimental participants will have been screened at the time of follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria: Members of African-American churches who are at least 50 years old. Exclusion Criteria: Non-members of African-American churches; members who are under 50 years of age.