PharmFIT

Background

In partnership with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, PharmFIT aims to demonstrate the feasibility of offering colorectal cancer screening services in community pharmacies through pharmacy-distributed fecal immunochemical tests (also known as FIT kits). The project works with the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network and is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Dr. Alison Brenner is the PI of the North Carolina site.

Our Strategy

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the one of the most common types of cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in the U.S. Utilizing community pharmacies to distribute at-home CRC screening kits (fecal immunochemical tests or FIT kits) may be a promising addition to existing efforts to enhance CRC screening efforts.

PharmFIT works with two rural community pharmacies to assess the feasibility of having pharmacies directly send FIT kits to patients. The research team, together with participating pharmacies and primary care providers, is co-creating a protocol for pharmacy-based CRC screening services. The program will then distribute 20 FIT kits to eligible adults in both pharmacies. The project will evaluate the success of the intervention through exit interviews and surveys with patients who received FIT kits and pharmacy and primary care staff involved.