# Building Engagement Using Financial Incentives for Colorectal Cancer Screening (BENEFIT‐C) in a Rural Louisiana Federally Qualified Health Center

## TL;DR

A pilot study in rural Louisiana found that financial incentives significantly increased colorectal cancer screening rates among eligible patients.

## Contribution

This study demonstrates the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of financial incentives in improving CRC screening in a low-resource setting.

## Key findings

- CRC screening completion was 68% in the intervention group versus 32% in the control group.
- The study confirmed the feasibility of implementing a community-engaged financial incentive program in a rural health center.

## Abstract

To evaluate the preliminary effectiveness and feasibility of a community‐engaged financial incentive intervention for increasing colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in a rural, low‐resource primary care setting.

A feasibility pilot trial at a federally qualified health center in the Acadiana region, Louisiana. Participants were identified via electronic health records (EHR), recruited by telephone, and randomized to intervention (n = 25) or control (n = 25). Both groups received incentives for flu and COVID‐19 vaccines. The intervention group also received incentives for CRC screening. Fisher's Exact tests evaluated between‐group differences in completion of CRC screening (primary outcome), flu, and COVID‐19 vaccines 2 months post‐enrollment.

Eligible patients were aged 45–75, due for CRC screening, and English‐speaking. From November 11, 2023 to March 31, 2024, completion of each outcome was obtained from the EHR.

57% of interested individuals were eligible; 94% of eligible individuals enrolled. Participants were 70% female, 42% Black, 24% uninsured, with a mean age of 52.4 years. Completion of CRC screening was higher in the intervention versus control group (17 [68%] vs. 8 [32%], p = 0.02).

Financial incentives significantly increased completion of CRC screening. Future research should confirm findings in larger samples and evaluate cost‐effectiveness to inform health system policies.