Doctors aren't talking enough about colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with newly eligible younger adults — and the gap is even wider for Black patients. Only 50% of adults aged 45–49 reported receiving screening information from their clinician, compared to 72.5% of those aged 65–75. Among Black patients in the younger group, that number dropped to just 33%.
Despite guidelines recommending colorectal cancer (CRC) screening starting at age 45, a new study finds that clinicians are significantly less likely to discuss screening options with newly eligible younger adults. Data from the 2024 Health Information National Trends Survey — covering 3,626 adults with no history of CRC — revealed a striking communication gap between age groups and racial demographics.
The disparity is especially pronounced for Black patients aged 45–49, where only one in three reported receiving screening information from their doctor, compared to nearly two in three White patients in the same age group. Researchers suggest that race-associated barriers to healthcare access may ease as patients age into Medicare, which could explain why the racial gap narrows in older cohorts.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Clinician recommendations are one of the strongest drivers of screening behavior. Closing this communication gap — through tools like EHR-integrated automated reminders and broader discussion of non-colonoscopy options like at-home stool tests — could meaningfully boost screening rates in underserved groups.
