Principal Investigator

Charles R. Rogers, PhD, MPH, MS, MCHES®

Research Team Members

Kiara Ellis, University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center
Lisa Laliberte, MNGI Digestive Health
Cordero McCall, MBA, MPH, Medical College of Wisconsin
Rebekah Pratt, PhD, University of Minnesota Medical School
Kelly Krupa Rifelj, MPA, Medical College of Wisconsin
Ami E. Sedani, PhD, MPH, Medical College of Wisconsin

Supporters

DAPDD-Brand Designs; International Leadership Institute; MNGI Digestive Health

Funding Period

2023

Funding Agencies

Medical College of Wisconsin, National Cancer Institute (K01CA234319); The V Foundation for Cancer Research; University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center

Overview

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is preventable via early detection screening, but CRC screening rates for men remain lower than those of women. Prior research, including our own, have implicated the influence of psychosocial factors such as knowledge and masculinity barriers to medical care on CRC screening behaviors. Hence, we lead “Colon Cancer: iPrevent. iTreat. iBeat.”—an innovative, seven-day community-based study at the Minnesota State Fair in 2014, which surveyed over 300 African-American men (ages 18-65) on factors influencing their CRC screening intentions and welcomed more than 24,600 diverse participants through an inflatable colon.

Although the first of its kind, our 2014 study did not employ a pre/post survey design to understand the impact of the walk-through inflatable colon as a CRC educational tool to increase knowledge and evaluate masculinity barriers to CRC screening intention and uptake among male populations. “Colon Cancer: iPrevent. iTreat. iBeat. 2” will achieve such by continuing our work with male attendees of the Minnesota State Fair while expanding to include male attendees of the Wisconsin State Fair as well.

Selected Publications and Presentations

Sedani, A. E., Rifelj, K., Bevel, M. S., Rogalla, M., McCall, C., Laliberte, L., Ellis, K., Pratt, R. J., & Rogers, C. R. (2024). Impact of an Inflatable Colon on Knowledge and Colorectal Cancer Screening Intent Among Male Attendees at State Fairs in Two Midwestern States, 2023. Preventing Chronic Disease, 2024 Student Paper Collection, 21:240020. doi: 10.5888/pcd21.240020.

Sedani, A. E., Baxter, S., Benavidez, G., Grande, S., Aspiras, O., & Rogers, C. R. (2024, October). Exploring The Impact of Masculinity on Men’s Engagement in Colorectal Cancer Screening: Insights from Two State Fairs in The Midwest. Oral presentation at American Public Health Association 2024 Annual Meeting and Exposition; Minneapolis, MN.

Sedani, A. E., Rifelj, K., Bevel, M. S., Rogalla, M., McCall, C., Laliberte, L., Ellis, K., Pratt, R. J., & Rogers, C. R. (2024, April). Exploring the impact of a giant inflatable colon on the level of awareness, knowledge, and intent for colorectal cancer screening among men attending two state fairs in the Midwest. Poster presentation at American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting; San Diego, CA.

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